RAIN or Shine, with import Jaylen Johnson out due to a suspension, found a way to stay undefeated in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup, beating Meralco, 109-102, on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
An all-Filipino Elasto Painters crew leaned on Felix Lemetti in the fourth period to preserve a lead that reached as high as 17 despite playing minus Johnson, who served a one-game suspension for a fistfight with TNT's Glenn Khobuntin last week.
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Lemetti came away with 23 points to lead five local players in double figures in the couragerous win that enabled the Elasto Painters to seize the solo lead in the midseason conference with a 3-0 (win-loss) record.
“We caught Meralco on a bad day. That's not their real game. They were kinda complacent, a little bit overconfident. Psychologically, we had the upper hand, playing with nothing to lose and expectations going against us winning the game,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
Lemetti highlighted his game-long brilliance with back-to-back three-point plays as part of a 9-0 blast in response to Meralco slicing the gap to one point, 95-94, midway through the fourth quarter.
Import-less Rain or Shine surprisingly outrebounded Meralco, 57-46, a sign that the Elasto Painters wanted the game more.
“The guys were just playing as hard as they can. It's sheer toughness. We played with a lot of toughness. There were times in the game where parang bibigay na pero nakakabawi pa rin,” said Guiao.
Adrian Nocum set the tone for Rain or Shine by scoring 13 of his 17 points in the second quarter. Caelan Tiongson added 16 points, Jhonard Clarito had 15 points and nine rebounds, while rookie Christian Manaytay added 12 on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting.
Chris Newsome had 29 points, and Marvin Jones had 17 points and 16 rebounds, but the Meralco import was held scoreless in the final quarter.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 109 – Lemetti 23, Nocum 17, Tiongson 16, Clarito 15, Manaytay 12, Mamuyac 8, Villegas 6, Malonzo 5, Santillan 4, Belga 3, David 0, Asistio 0, Caracut 0, Roque 0.
Meralco 102 – Newsome 29, Jones 17, Brickman 15, Quinto 14, Cansino 13, Banchero 6, Mocon 6, Hodge 2, Bates 0, Magbuhos 0, Black 0.
Quarters: 29-23; 51-44; 78-76; 109-102.
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