RAIN or Shine outlasted San Miguel, 116-112, behind its running game and composure in the endgame to stay perfect at the end of their entertaining PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup tussle at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Elasto Painters ran at every opportunity and opened a gap that reached as high as 25 points, but still needed to knock down shots in the final minutes to weather a Beermen comeback fueled by the hot-shooting of Marcio Lassiter.
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“Mabuti na lang naka-lamang kami ng 25. Kung nagkataon bente lang lamang namin, natalo pa kami. Hindi ka talaga puwedeng mag-relax pag San Miguel ang kalaban,” said a relieved Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
Felix Lemetti drained a lay-up and a three for a 105-97 Elasto Painters lead after the Beermen cut the deficit to its closest at 99-97 behind an animated crowd at the ‘Ninoy.’
Lemetti's big-time shots preserved the efforts of Jaylen Johnson and Adrian Nocum as the Elasto Painters stayed in first place with a clean 5-0 win-loss record.
Johnson had 24 points while Nocum had 21 points including a three-pointer from the left wing with 5:23 left that got Rain or Shine up, 108-100.
San Miguel still had a chance to knot the score in a wild final offensive sequence, but Don Trollano and Justin Patton missed four-point shots.
Rain or Shine outscored San Miguel, 34-13, on fastbreak points on its way to its best start in franchise history on the day that the league celebrated its 51st anniversary by giving away free tickets to several fans.
The Elasto Painters zoomed to a 92-67 lead late in the third quarter on a basket by Mike Malonzo that closed a 12-1 run. They were leading, 95-73, entering the fourth before holding on to the win even after being outscored, 39-21, in the final canto.
Lassiter had 27 points, his highest point total over six seasons, according to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon. He also fueled a 24-4 blast to trim the gap to two, but the Beermen ran out of gas.
Cjay Perez added 18 points, but Patton had 12 points and was saddled with foul troubles that limited him to 27 minutes.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 116 – Johnson 24, Nocum 21, Clarito 16, Lemetti 14, Tiongson 11, Mamuyac 10, Caracut 9, Santillan 5, Asistio 2, Roque 2, Malonzo 2, Villegas 0, Manaytay 0.
San Miguel 112 – Lassiter 27, Perez 18, Fajardo 17, Trollano 14, Patton 12, Tautuaa 9, Cruz 9, Tiongson 4, Brondial 2, Rosales 0, Cahilig 0.
Quarters: 26-27; 62-52; 95-73; 116-112.
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