RAIN or Shine made it two straight wins while in the middle of a crucial import change by holding off a late Magnolia comeback, 86-82, on Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Carl Montgomery gave a good account of himself as a stand-in for the injured Denzel Bowles as the Elastopainters moved back to .500 with a 5-5 win-loss card and enhanced their chances of a Top Six finish.
Montgomery scored 20 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and made the crucial block on Jio Jalalon on a fastbreak that stopped Magnolia's momentum after they cut a 10-point deficit to just four inside the final two minutes.
Beau Belga contributed 22 points while going 4-of-9 from three-point range while Javee Mocon scored all of his seven points in an 11-0 run that enabled Rain or Shine to break loose from a 69-69 deadlock late in the fina quarter.
“He is not the biggest import, not the tallest, not the strongest, but he was able to give us the energy in the second half when we started scoring,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia of Montgomery.
Ed Daquioag added 14 points, including seven in the third quarter when the Elastopainters wrested control, 64-61, after trailing, 41-35, at the half. His jumper also gave Rain or Shine more breathing room after Magnolia crawled withi four in the endgame.
Ian Sangalang chipped in 24 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, while James Farr had 19 points and 23 rebounds for the Hotshots, who lost their third straight game after a five-game win streak.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 86 – Belga 22, Montgomery 20, Daquioag 14, Mocon 7, Rosales 7, Norwood 5, Nambatac 5, Ponferada 3, Torres 2, Borboran 1.
Magnolia 82 – Sangalang 24, Farr 19, Barroca 14, Lee 9, Jalalon 7, Dela Rosa 6, Herndon 3, Melton 0, Brondial 0.
Quarters: 15-22; 35-41; 64-61; 86-82.
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