CHICAGO— Throughout the course of this PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup, Rain or Shine had consistently weaponized its deep roster.
That bench depth proved lethal yet again, drowning Ginebra, 97-85, in Game Four of their best-of-seven semifinals series.
Christian Manaytay and Mike Malonzo combined for 20 points as the Elasto Painters bench outscored Ginebra’s reserves, 48-12.
READ Caracut missing something, not someone, as Rain or Shine point guard
As though that pair of M and M wasn’t good enough, Gian Mamuyac joined the fray with 12 points and four rebounds as a starter.
On a Wednesday night when Jaylen Johnson was hounded by foul trouble and held to 13 points on just 26 minutes and 18 seconds of action, his peers carried him.
Jhonard Clarito and Adrian Nocum each had 11 points as 12 of the 13 Elasto Painters who played scored.
D IS THE KEY.
Rain or Shine hit just 10-of-34 threes and 36-of-85 shots overall.
It didn’t matter.
Because their defense held Ginebra to just 5-of-23 from 3 and 29-of-73 from the field overall.
“Yung mga lapses namin noong nakaraan na-correct namin sa practice. Buti naman ngayon na-execute namin ang depensa namin,” Clarito told reporters in a post-game interview.
The Big Three of Justine Brownlee, Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson combined for 57 points, 22 rebounds and eight assists.
OFF NIGHT.
But star point guard RJ Avarrientos was handcuffed to a mere eight points and three assists with three turnovers.
With Abarrientos neutralized, there was little offense from the rest of the Gin Kings, who trailed 58-36 st the half and fell behind by as many as 26 points.
“They took us out from what we do, and they just totally controlled the game from start to finish,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said after his team failed to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Instead, the series is tied at 2-2.
Once on top of the elimination-round standings before injuries slowed their advance, the Elasto Painters are two wins away from a finals appearance.
Coach Yeng Guiao and his boys are at it again, carrying the torch for independent teams while championing the cause of parity in the PBA.
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