After trailing most of the game, Rain or Shine Elastopainters banked on a fourth quarter surge to stun former mentor Yeng Guiao and NLEX Road Warriors, 107-97, in the 2017 Oppo PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
RoS’ victory sends their slate to 4-2, creating a three-way tie at the second spot of the rankings with TNT KaTropa and Blackwater Elite. The Road Warriors, meanwhile, dropped to to their fifth straight loss and now owns a 1-5 card.
Knowing that the match was sort of an emotional one due to the fact that they are facing their former coach in Yeng Guiao, Elasto Painters head coach Caloy Garcia just told his wards to not get caught up with such and focus on themselves instead.
“I told the guys not to focus on coach Yeng but focus more on winning,” said Garcia. “We woke them up and told them, ‘You’re playing not like old Rain or Shine team, and you’re not even there to win. If we lose, we’re not having a break, so maybe that’s the reason.”
Jewel Ponferrada flirted with a double-double, posting a career-high of 22 points and nine boards to pace ROS. However, Jericho Cruz, who scored 19 points by shooting 9 of 16 from the floor, proved to be the star for tonight after anchoring the Elasto Painters’ fourth quarter surge.
The Road Warriors were still alive after trailing by just three, 98-95, with 4:45 to go in the final period until RoS exploded to a 7-0 run anchored by four points from Cruz to post their biggest lead of the night, 105-95, with 2:04 left, to seal the victory.
“Well he played great tonight,” said Garcia of Cruz’s output. “The last two games, medyo panget.”
“He actually told me na he’ll focus on defense, but we can’t take away his offense since he is our leading scorer.”
Sean Anthony produced 22 markers for NLEX in a losing effort. Jansen Rios, meanwhile, scored a career-high of his with 20 markers on 6 of 9 shooting from the floor.
Guard Kevin Alas made 17 of his own, with 15 of those coming from NLEX’s 16-4 run in the third canto to push his team up by 12, 79-67, in the 5:53 mark.
RoS will have a long break before facing Phoenix Fuel Masters on January 8, Sunday, 4:30 PM at Araneta Coliseum. NLEX will battlr TNT KaTropa next on January 7, Saturday, 5 PM at Angeles, Pampanga.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine (107) – Ponferada 22, Cruz 19, Chan 16, Yap 13, Norwood 11, Ahanmisi 7, Washington 7, Trollano 6, Belga 4, Matias 2, Tolomia 0, Ibanes 0, Maiquez 0.
NLEX (97) – Anthony 22, Rios 20, Alas 17, Villanueva 9, Baracael 7, Khobuntin 6, Taulava 5, Monfort 5, Camson 4, Lastimosa 2, Guinto 0.
Quarterscores: 21-28, 48-58, 80-85, 107-97.
