RAIN or Shine held Terrafirma scoreless in a five-minute stretch of the fourth quarter to pull away for a 124-112 win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the Philsports Arena.
The Elasto Painters went on an 8-0 run during that Dyip scoring drought to finally shake off a Terrafirma side that dictated the game behind the inspired play of Louie Sangalang.
“It was good to win four straight games before Christmas, before the New Year,” said coach Yeng Guiao.
The fourth straight win for Rain or Shine (4-1) was a fitting end to its year and came as an early Christmas gift for team co-owners Terry Que and Raymond Yu.
Adrian Nocum finished with 21 points, 17 of them came in the second half including a huge three-pointer that took the fight out of Terrafirma, 120-110, in the final 1:22 mark.
The high-flying sophomore also had a big block on Terrafirma import Brandon Lee Edwards in that run that saved ROS from what would have been a deflating upset.
“We’re having a Christmas dinner also. So mabuti na lang hindi nasira yung mood namin kung hindi, di kami makakakain ng husto. Masarap pa naman ang hinanda nila boss,” added Guiao smiling.
"Mabuti na lang naipanalo namin ito sa tulong ni Adrian at mga teammates niya."
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Import Deon Thompson led Rain or Shine with 23 points and 17 rebounds, Andrei Caracut with 15 points and Leonard Santillan and Anton Asistio combined for 21 points.
Terrafirma remained winless in seven games, but played perhaps its best game in the conference in a game that saw the team score a conference-best 37 points in the opening quarter to take an early 12-point lead.
Sangalang, import Brandon Edwards, and Brent Paraiso led that opening assault, though Rain or Shine recovered and took a 66-62 lead at the break.
Edwards scored 13 points in the third when the Dyip opened the scoring on a 13-0 run to retake the upperhand, 75-66.
The Dyip were still on top, 108-104, with 7:51 left in the game on a layup by Sangalang before Terrafirm suddenly lost its touch and let Rain or Shine come back.
Edwards finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Sangalang added 21 and eight rebounds, Paraiso with 16 and veteran Vic Manuel with 12 for Terrafirma.
Manuel and Paraiso also combined for 12 rebounds.
The scores:
Rain or Shine (124) - Thompson 23, Nocum 21, Caracut 15, Santillan 11, Aistio 10, Malonzo 8, Clarito 7, Datu 7, Lemetti 6, Tiongson 6, Escandor 5, Norwood 2, Ildefonso 2, Belga 1, Demusis 0.
Terrafirma (112) - Edwards 26, Sangalang 21, Paraiso 16, Manuel 12, Hernandez 9, Melecio 7, Catapusan 7, Nonoy 7, Pringle 3, Olivario 2, Ramos 2, Ferrer 0.
Quarterscores: 28-37; 66-62; 98-65; 124-112.
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