Coach Yeng Guiao received a fitting welcome in his return from a quick vacation as Rain or Shine ended Blackwater’s three-game winning streak, 131-108, in the PBA On Tour, Sunday night at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Back from Bali for a short breather with the family, the champion mentor couldn’t be any more pleased to see his Elasto Painters chalk up win no. 8 behind a solid showing, virtually clinching second place in the single-round pre-season derby.
RoS is now 8-2 in the standings behind the 9-0 Magnolia, with the Bossing and the Meralco Bolts sitting below with identical 6-4 records.
“Although alam natin hindi naman ‘to [may] bearing talaga, this will cement our second-place finish. Kung manalo kami rito, we can claim second place kahit na kunya-kunyarian lang ‘yung laro rito,” Guiao joked.
“Bragging rights pa rin, kahit papano,” he added. “Also, nagkakakumpiyansa ‘yung mga bata. We’re able to distribute equal playing time, we’re able to validate our system, we’re able to give them confidence with their games.”
Six players finished in double figures in the win, with Santi Santillan leading the way once again with a game-high 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field.
Andrei Caracut delivered 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Gian Mamuyac made 17 points, alongside six boards, two dimes, and two blocks.
Shawn Ildefonso supplied 12 points. Jhonard Clarito produced 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists while Nick Demusis added 10 markers.
Beau Belga almost tallied a triple-double as he finished with eight points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists against only two turnovers in 19 minutes in the conquest that saw the whole team dish out 40 assists.
“Forty ‘yung assists namin — walang coach na hindi matutuwa sa 40 assists. And then, we only had 12 turnovers. So, maganda ‘yung assist-to-turnover ratio namin,” said Guiao, whose team is averaging 27.4 dimes in the On Tour.
“That means they’re playing smarter. That means you make the game easier–if you have 40 assists that means you make the game easier. It’s not only easier; the game looks more beautiful when you’re passing the ball,” he added.
Rain or Shine can finish the tilt with a three-game winning streak versus Meralco on Friday, July 28, 5 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
On the other hand, RK Ilagan registered 18 points to lead Blackwater in the loss. Mike DiGregorio had 17 points while Troy Rosario made 15.
The Bossing actually scored the game’s first basket but it proved to be their only taste of the lead as Jewel Ponferrada, Mamuyac, and Mark Borboran joined hands to put the Elasto Painters ahead for good.
Coach Jeff Cariaso’s wards even trailed by as much as 29 points, 126-97, following Caracut’s triple with under six minutes left to play.
Ato Ular and Rashawn McCarthy finished with 14 points apiece while Rey Suerte added 11 markers and five dimes in the defeat.
Blackwater will try to end its campaign on a triumphant note against TNT on the tourney’s final gameday next Sunday, July 30, also at Ynares-Pasig.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 131 – Santillan 24, Caracut 18, Mamuyac 17, Ildefonso 12, Clarito 11, Demusis 10, Asistio 9, Ponferrada 9, Belga 8, Belo 7, Borboran 6.
Blackwater 108 – Ilagan 18, DiGregorio 17, Rosario 15, Ular 14, McCarthy 14, Suerte 11, Amer 6, Escoto 6, Casio 3, Publico 3, Banal 1, AYonayon 0.
Quarterscores: 33-27, 64-53, 103-87, 131-108
