RAIN or Shine survived the hard fight of Phoenix, 91-80, on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium to take solo leadership in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup.
Anton Asistio had eight of his 20 points in the final quarter that saw the Elasto Painters break away from a 63-63 deadlock at the end of the third.
Asistio sizzled with 6-of-8 shooting from three-point distance including a trey as part of Rain or Shine’s 13-0 run that turned a four-point deficit into an 80-71 lead midway in the third.
Rain or Shine improved to 5-1 win-loss to grab first place away from Magnolia in the team standings.
Keith Datu, however, left the game in the third quarter after a knee injury following a bad fall, and was taken to a hospital to get an MRI.
Asistio sizzled with 6-of-8 shooting from three-point distance including a trey as part of Rain or Shine’s 13-0 run that turned a four-point deficit into an 80-71 lead midway in the third.
Too close for comfort for Rain or Shine
The Elasto Painters won their fourth straight game, but head coach Yeng Guiao admitted he doesn’t want to win in such a manner.
In their previous game, Rain or Shine got a lucky break when it won over Titan Ultra, 112-111, last October 26 on Asistio hitting four free throws in the end game after being fouled by Joshua Munzon.
“We are getting used to finding ways to win but I would rather win ‘yung medyo maluwag luwag, hindi ‘yung masyadong nahihirapan,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
Rain or Shine later led by as many as 11 points, 89-78, after Phoenix made the game close during the first three quarters.
“The score doesn’t reflect the closeness of the game. If you look at the score, it’s a double-digit lead but it’s a lot closer than that,” he said.
Gian Mamuyac led Rain or Shine in scoring with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field to set the tone for his squad in the third after amassing 14 in the quarter.
Jason Perkins had 17 points and seven rebounds, Phoenix had Bryan Santos and Kai Ballungay grabbing 11 and 10 rebounds respectively, but the Fuelmasters still lost for the fourth straight time and fall to 1-5.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 91 – Mamuyac 22, Asistio 20, Clarito 11, Nocum 10, Datu 9, Santillan 6, Malonzo 6, Norwood 2, Porter 2, Belga 2, Lemetti 1, Caracut 0, Ildefonso 0.
Phoenix 80 – Perkins 17, Manganti 13, Ballungay 9, Santos 9, Tio 8, Rivero 7, Garcia 6, Tuffin 6, Kwekuteye 3, Daves 2, Caperal 0, Nelle 0.
Quarters: 21-15; 36-37; 63-63; 91-80.
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