The reserves of Rain or Shine scored big in the second half with their outside shots, carrying the Elasto Painters to a 116-97 pummeling of the Blackwater Elite Bossings on Friday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Triples from Norbert Torres, Nick Demusis and Anton Asistio were made at the right moment as the Painters snapped out of a two-game skid and stayed in contention for a quarterfinals seat.
Their present record at 5-6 has put them in a share of seventh with the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.
Import Ryan Pearson showed signs that he is getting into the groove, hitting 22 points and pulling down 12 rebounds for the Elasto Painters, who showed no signs of rust following an 11-day break.
Pearson had six points in the last 2:03 of the second period as RoS moved away from a 45-all deadlock and gained a 51-45 lead at halftime.
In the third period, the Painters unloaded six treys, with Torres hitting one in the final 1:29, to pad a 74-70 lead into a 82-71 edge going into the fourth canto.
Demusis then scored all of his nine points in the final period as RoS shot four of six treys in the fourth in the last 8:47 to grab their biggest lead at 101-80.
Coach Yeng Guiao said their triumph allowed them a chance to prepare for their last game in the elims against the Magnolia Timplados Hotshots.
“Mabigat ang huling laro namin against Magnolia. Pero gumaganda na ang laro ng import,” said Guiao.
In all, the Elasto Painters, who unleashed 17 three-pointers during the game, will take week-long break before their crucial clash with second seed Magnolia (8-2).
Pulling off an upset over Magnolia will improve RoS’ playoff chances.
The Bossing (3-8) have joined bottom-dweller Terrafirma (1-9) — coincidentally the last team they beat — as the first teams to head to an early vacation.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 116 – Pearson 22, Nambatac 21, Asistio 13, Torres 13, Demusis 9, Ildefonso 7, Belga 7, Mamuyac 7, Caracut 7, Ponferrada 3, Santillan 3, Clarito 2, Guinto 2, Norwood 0, Borboran 0.
Blackwater 97 – Krutwig 23, Go 18, Jackson 13, Suerte 12, Ayonayon 10, Ular 7, Melton 6, Ebona 3, Sena 2, Dyke 1, McCarthy 0.
Quarterscores: 24-20, 51-45, 82-71, 116-97