RAIN or Shine finished strong to recover from blowing a 19-point lead and take a hard-earned 110-100 win over Blackwater in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Disaster nearly struck for the Elasto Painters as the Bossing recovered from a lackadaisical first half and took control of the game following a 36-16 third quarter.
Adrian Nocum scored eight in the Elasto Painters’ backbreaking 16-3 run to retake control of the game after trailing the Bossing, 88-85, midway through the fourth quarter.
READ Third-rounder Jack Cruz-Dumont proving his worth for Blackwater
Rain or Shine never let up from there to take its second win in three games
Behind Keith Datu, the Elasto Painters opened like a house on fire, taking a 21-3 lead in the first quarter which they padded to 19 and maintained for pretty much the entire first half.
The Bossing, however, turned things around in the third period as they hit six three pointers behind Richard Escoto and Sedrick Barefield, who combined for 5-of-7 from downtown for a 77-71 lead entering the payoff period.
It was a lead the Bossing kept up until the 6:55 mark of the fourth before Nocum conspired with Datu and Jhonard Clarito to retake control of the game for good.
Datu led the way for the Elasto Painters with 20 points and eight rebounds while Nocum added 17.
Clarito finished with 16 points as Gian Mamuyac finished with all-around numbers of 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks for Rain or Shine, who missed the services of forward Caelan Tiongson due to a hamstring issue.
Escoto had 20 points for the Bossing while rookie Jack Cruz-Dumont played his best game in the PBA after firing 19 but it wasn’t enough as Blackwater slid to 1-2.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 110 – Datu 20, Nocum 17, Clarito 16, Mamuyac 13, Asistio 8, Malonzo 8, Santillan 7, Pangilinan-Lemetti 5, Belga 5, Porter 4, Norwood 3, Caracut 2, Ildefonso 2
Blackwater 100 — Escoto 20, Cruz-Dumont 19, David 18, Barefield 15, Zamar 7, Tratter 5, Panopio 4, Mendoza 4, Guinto 3, Jopia 3, Andrade 2, Murell 0
Quarters: 27-17, 55-41, 71-77, 110-100
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