RAIN or Shine snapped out of a two-game losing skid by defeating erstwhile league solo leader NorthPort, 127-107, on Thursday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena.
The Elasto Painters never trailed in the ballgame that saw an end to their mid-conference wobble and hiked their record to 6-3 (win-loss) - good for a share of fourth place with Eastern, Barangay Ginebra, and Meralco.
“I think it was more of our defense tonight,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao. “Ang taas ng score namin pero sa amin kasi, mataas na score, medyo normal sa pace namin. Tapos ang maganda pa rito, meron kaming seven guys in double figures. So ‘yun ‘yung talagang hinahabol namin, mag-balanse ang opensa namin.”
After their landmark win over Barangay Ginebra last week, the Batang Pier have now lost two in a row and slipped to a share of second place with Converge in the leaderboard heading to a match against San Miguel Beer.
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After the Batang Pier loss, TNT has now risen to first place with a 5-2 record based on winning percentage.
Just two days removed from its second consecutive defeat to Converge on Tuesday, Rain or Shine started strong with a 33-18 first quarter advantage, and led by as many as 25 points behind import Deon Thompson and a host of locals.
Thompson led seven players in double digits with 27 points while also chipping in 11 rebounds and two blocks for the Elasto Painters.
NorthPort’s Big Three had mixed results. Kadeem Jack scored 39 points, but Arvin Tolentino and Joshua Munzon combined for only 36.
“Sa kabila, alam namin na tatlong tao ang iiskor – import, Munzon, at si Tolentino. Sabi namin, kung mabawasan lang namin ‘yan tapos ma-hold namin ‘yung locals nila na hindi maka-contribute, actually medyo ‘yun nga ang nangyari,” said Guiao.
“Dominant lang ‘yung import nila dahil nagka-foul trouble ‘yung import din namin kaya hirap na kaming pigilan, wala kaming pang-match-up. Pero nung na-control namin ‘yung locals nila, medyo kontrolado din namin ‘yung laro kasi siguro sila Munzon at Tolentino, medyo nahirapan din sa defense namin,” he added.
Adrian Nocum also had a vital role in the win by contributing 16 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, while Santi Santillan had 16 points for Rain or Shine.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 127 – Thompson 27, Nocum 16, Santillan 16, Caracut 13, Asistio 12, Datu 11, Belga 10, Clarito 8, Norwood 7, Tiongson 5, Malonzo 2, Lemetti 0, Ildefonso 0.
NorthPort 107 – Jack 39, Tolentino 19, Munzon 17, Flores 8, Nelle 5, Cuntapay 5, Miranda 4, Onwubere 3, Yu 3, Bulanadi 2, Navarro 2, Taha 0, Tratter 0.
Quarters: 33-18; 62-44; 96-75; 127-107.
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