ANTIPOLO – Rain or Shine notched its second win in a row in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup by sending Meralco spiraling further down the standings through a dominant 128-116 rout, Sunday evening at the Ynares Center here.
The Elasto Painters unloaded 73 big points in the middle quarters to head into the final 12 minutes ahead by two decades, 102-82, never to let up on the way to stringing together their first winning streak of the conference.
Coach Yeng Guiao & Co. improved to 2-1 after dealing the Bolts their third successive loss after starting out with back-to-back victories, doing as much despite playing with a depleted lineup — especially upfront.
(C) PBA Images
“We just tried to play to our strong suit, which is to play with a lot of pace, and just keep attacking the defense of Meralco,” said Coach Yeng Guiao.
Santi Santillan led the way for Rain or Shine with 27 points and seven rebounds. Adrian Nocum and Gian Mamuyac came through with 24 points each.
Felix Lemetti supplied 13 points, while Gabe Norwood made 12 points in his best game in a long while, eventually netting Player of the Game honors.
Jhonard Clarito chipped in 10 markers as plenty stepped up for a team that lacked pieces in the frontcourt. Bruiser Caelan Tiongson joined Beau Belga and Keith Datu on the injury/reserve list no thanks to back spasms.
“We had practically zero bigs. The only way we can win the game is really to just keep playing fast, which is what we always do anyway,” said Guiao.
Rain or Shine will shoot for a third straight win when it takes on Converge next on Wednesday, April 30, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
(C) PBA Images
Bong Quinto, on the other hand, had 23 points and five rebounds to lead Meralco. CJ Cansino and Raymar Jose backed him up with 21 apiece.
Chris Banchero made 14 points for the Bolts, who trailed by as many as 27 in the defeat where they allowed RoS to post their highest output this season.
Meralco will look to arrest its skid on May 9, Friday, when it faces Arvin Tolentino and NorthPort also at the Philsports Arena.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 128 – Santillan 27, Mamuyac 24, Nocum 24, Lemetti 13, Norwood 12, Clarito 10, Malonzo 9, Caracut 7, Borboran 2, Asistio 0.
Meralco 116 – Quinto 23, Jose 21, Cansino 21, Banchero 14, Hodge 8, Caram 7, Bates 6, Black 5, Rios 4, Newsome 3, Reyson 2, Almazan 2, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 29-28, 66-59, 102-82, 128-116.
