Rain or Shine in top spot after win vs GlobalPort
THE Rain or Shine Elasto Painters kept their spot on the top of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup standings after beating the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 96-90, in a highly competitive and emotionally charged match yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Challenged greatly by the Batang Pier throughout the contest, the E-Painters collectively showed their grit and determination to get the better of the former and improve to a league-leading 5-1 record as the midseason tournament hits the halfway point.
The match got off to a frenetic start with both teams firing from all cylinders.
GlobalPort held a 16-9 advantage midway into the opening quarter with import Malcolm White and Sean Anthony spearheading the thrust.
Rain or Shine narrowed the gap, 26-27, after five minutes before the Batang Pier settled for a 30-26 lead by the end of the first quarter.
In the second canto the EPainters would open things with a 7-3 run to level the count at 33-all at the 7:07 mark.
They would build on the momentum, led by James Yap and import Reggie Johnson, taking a six-point cushion after, 39-33, with 5:15 remaining on the clock.
But the Batang Pier would regain their footing, answering with a 9-2 run to seize the lead anew, 42-41 heading into the final two minutes.
A triple by Mr. Anthony made it 45- 41 for GlobalPort but Rain or Shine would fin- ish the period with a 4- 0 surge to tie the knot at 45- all by the halftime break.
Rain or Shine picked up where it left off in the second quarter, sprinting to a 59- 49 advantage in the first seven minutes of the third period as Beau Belga and Ed Daquioag joined in the scoring fray.
It was an ascent that the EPainters would make good use of as they kept their opponents at bay and continued to hold sway, 67- 62, heading into the payoff quarter.
Globalport raised its level of play to start the final canto, going on to level the score at 74-all with 6:50 to go.
The game was momentarily halted after as Rain or Shine guard Chris Tiu went to the floor bleeding from a wayward elbow from Mr. White.
When the match resumed, the two teams continued with their back-and-forth.
The count stood at 79-78 with Rain or Shine on top with five minutes remaining in the ball game.
Five straight points from Mr. Johnson helped the E-Painters to an 84-79 lead at the 3:49 juncture of the contest.
Play was once again stopped with 3:20 remaining on the clock after a near-fracas involving multiple players from both teams that resulted in GlobalPort’s Kelly Nabong and Rain or Shine’s Maverick Ahanmisi being thrown out for fighting fouls meted on them.
The nip-and-tuck affair continued as the game wound up, with GlobalPort coming within four points, 94-90, with 20 ticks to go, but the E-Painters would not seize command and moved on to close out the game.
Mr. Johnson paced Rain or Shine with 18 points and 16 rebounds with Mr. Yap finishing with 14 points.
Mr. Ahanmisi and Raymond Almazan added 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Mr. Tiu with 10 points.
Mr. White, meanwhile, led GlobalPort with 21 points with Stanley Pringle adding 15 of his own.
“After what happened to me I really wanted to win the game. I think that is the best revenge after what that person ( White) did to me. Happy that my teammates had my back. And this is a good start for us at 5-1,” Mr. Tiu said after their victory.
Following Sunday’s doubleheader, the PBA takes a nine-day break to give way to the three-leg PBA All- Star festivities. Regular action resumes on May 30.