The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters punctuated their 2017 Governor’s Cup elimination round campaign on a rousing note as they dismantled the Blackwater Elite, 122-98, Saturday afternoon at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters improved to 7-4, keeping their hopes of attaining a twice-to-beat advantage for the playoffs alive. Meanwhile, the Elite, a team also bound for the playoffs, ended their elimination phase run with a 5-6 card.
“I guess we just wanted it more today,” said RoS head coach Caloy Garcia. “Everybody who came into the game stepped up. Basically I told them that we have a chance in the Top Four, so they really wanted to win.”
Six E-Painters finished in double figures in the win, with J’nathan Bullock top-billing with 30 points along with eight rebounds. Raymond Almazan scored 20, while Gabe Norwood made 15 points, six boards, and five assists.
The match was a close affair in the first three quarters, until Rain or Shine pulled away for good in the final quarter. A 13-6 scoring spree — ended by Almazan’s triple — sent them to their first 20-points lead, 103-83, with 7:22 in the period.
The team in white did not give any opening for Blackwater to mount a comeback. The Elasto Painters posted the game’s biggest lead at 28, 119-91, after a Ronnie Matias lay-up with 1:42 left to play.
Maverick Ahanmisi flirted with a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds for Rain or Shine. Rookie Ed Daquioag and Don Trollano each supplied 11 markers on a combined 7-of-12 shooting from the floor.
Allein Maliksi, now in his second game for the Elite, led his team with 29 points on 45 percent shooting on top of eight rebounds. Henry Walker finished with a double-double of 21 points and 13 caroms along with five assists.
RoS shot 49 percent from the floor, all thanks to the 27 assists they made. Their bench contributed greatly to the victory as they supplied 62 points to their total output, a far cry from Blackwater’s 19.
The Elasto Painters played today without James Yap due to hamstring issues.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 122 – Bullock 30, Almazan 20, Norwood 15, Ahanmisi 12, Trollano 11, Daquioag 11, Belga 5, King 5, Matias 4, Ponferada 3, Maiquez 2, Robles 2, Borboran 2.
Blackwater 98 – Maliksi 29, Walker 21, Canaleta 15, Erram 14, Digregorio 9, Sumang 6, Belo 2, Sena 2, Miranda 0, Pinto 0, Cruz 0, Marcelo 0.
Quarterscores: 30-21, 57-56, 89-77, 122-98.
