Rain or Shine notched its second win in a row in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup following a vengeful 108-99 victory over a very familiar adversary in Barangay Ginebra on Sunday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Still on a high from their 105-98 breakthrough victory over Phoenix the last time out, the Elasto Painters took the lead early. Then they poured 36 points in the third canto to build an 89-73 lead entering the fourth to seize full control.
The spread even went to its highest at 18 early in the fourth, and that proved to be a cushion good enough to keep the opposition at bay. It also built their first winning streak of the conference after stumbling in their debut.
But more than that, it was a measure of payback as well against the crowd darlings, who sent them packing in the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semis.
(C) PBA Images
“Natiyempuhan namin na Ginebra was tired coming from their Friday game,” offered head coach Yeng Guiao as they faced a Kings team coming off a massive 115-85 rout of Blackwater last Friday, also at the Big Dome.
“Ang ganda ng shooting nila nung Friday, at umaasa ako the law of averages caught up with them, at bumaba ang shooting percentage nila,” he added.
Aaron Fuller led Rain or Shine once more with 37 points alongside 12 rebounds and five assists. Caelan Tiongson delivered 21 points on five triples, together with five rebounds, en route to earning Player of the Game honors.
Adrian Nocum finished with 13 points and a career-high 10 assists. Jhonard Clarito came through with 13 as well, on top of seven rebounds.
“We started the conference at 0-2, and we started this game just focused on winning,” said Tiongson, who scored nine in the third quarter alone. “We have a good import who attracted defense, and he opened up the spaces for us.”
(C) PBA Images
Riley Grigsby led Ginebra with 25 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, and received solid support once more, but it didn’t lead to the outcome they wanted.
RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario had 13 points apiece, while Jeremiah Gray made 11. Stephen Holt and Japeth Aguilar added 10 each for the Barangay, which fell to 1-2 in Group B, which is being led by Phoenix Super LPG (3-1).
Both teams will return to action on Friday, July 31, at the Mall of Asia Arena in a pair of heavyweight bouts. Rain or Shine will lock horns with Magnolia at 5:15 PM before Ginebra takes the floor against rivals Meralco at 7:30 PM.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 110 – Fuller 37, Tiongson 21, Nocum 13, Clarito 13, Cuajao 9, Villegas 5, Malonzo 4, Manaytay 4, Caracut 2, David 2, Asistio 0.
Ginebra 99 – Grigsby 25, Abarrientos 13, Rosario 13, Gray 11, Holt 10, J.Aguilar 10, Abis 7, Cu 6, Go 2, Carino 2, Torres 0, Pinto 0.
Quarterscores: 33-29, 53-46, 89-73, 110-99.
