Rain or Shine will now play its third game in five days
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters saved their 2017 Philippine Cup run from becoming a disappointment as they clinched the last playoff spot with a 103-80 win over Blackwater Elite Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the season-saving victory, Rain or Shine will troop to the All-Filipino playoffs for the ninth consecutive time, and will face league leaders San Miguel Beermen in the quarterfinals.
“Finally after five games, nakapasok din kami,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia. “After nung Alaska game, I told them that the effort was already there. But we have to play the same way in today’s game.”
Six players scored in double figures to pace RoS. Jay Washington made 15 points and eight rebounds. Mike Tolomia had 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting, while fellow guard Jericho Cruz had 12 points and 12 boards.
Center Beau Belga produced 12 points and seven rebounds. Jeff Chan also had 12 markers despite hitting just one triple, while Maverick Ahanmisi produced 11 points and six rebounds to round up RoS’ leaders.
The Elite were still in touch with the Elasto Painters in the 4:19 mark of the third quarter, 59-51, after forward Art Dela Cruz made a pair of perfect charities. However, that proved to be the closest Blackwater could get.
With Washington, Tolomia, and Ahanmisi anchoring the offense plus baskets from Maiquez and Belga, Rain or Shine then left Blackwater in the dust, scoring at will to post the game’s widest gap at 25, 103-78, with just 64 seconds remaining.
“We now have to face San Miguel. We just have to think we can beat the best team,” added Garcia, on RoS’ daunting assignment in the quarters.
Dela Cruz led Blackwater with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting and nine rebounds. Nard Pinto and Ronjay Buenafe added 12 and 13, respectively.
The Elasto Painters shot 35 of their 74 tries en route to a 47 percent shooting clip, a far cry from Blackwater’s dismal 34 percent. The rebounds also yielded a huge disparity, 55-43, in Rain or Shine’ favor. However, the Elasto Painters lost the ball 23 times that led to 21 Blackwater points.
The Rain or Shine-San Miguel quarterfinal clash will take place on Sunday, February 5, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 103 – Washington 15, Tolomia 14, Cruz 12, Chan 12, Belga 12, Ahanmisi 11, Norwood 7, Ponferada 6, Maiquez 6, Tiu 4, Yap 2, Trollano 2, Robles 0.
Blackwater 80 – Dela Cruz 20, Pinto 13, Buenafe 12, Cervantes 9, Sena 8, Belo 6, Miranda 6, Gamalinda 4, Aguilar 2, Pascual 0, Banal 0, Forrester 0.
Quarterscores: 16-16, 45-36, 68-56, 103-80
