Asia Cup vets lift E-Painters past Hotshots
Games Wednesday (MOA Arena, Pasay) 4:15 p.m. – Blackwater vs TNT 7 p.m. – Phoenix vs Brgy. Ginebra
Gabe Norwood and Raymond Almazan marked their return to Rain Or Shine in style as the Elasto Painters dealt the Star Hotshots their first loss via a 92-88 victory in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Back from their stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon, Norwood and Almazan came through with double-double efforts to power the Elasto Painters to their third straight victory and fourth overall against two losses and enhance their quarterfinal drive.
Later in the night, NLEX relied on Larry Fonacier’s clutch shooting as it held off San Miguel Beer, 103-100, to clinch the first quarterfinal berth with a 6-2 mark. The Beermen slid to 3-2. Earlier, Norwood came away with 15 points and 11 rebounds with four assists, two steals and a block while Almazan powered his way to 13 points and 14 boards, half of which came on the offensive board to help Rain Or Shine fend off Star’s late fightback.
But the rigors of playing for country and club took their toll on Almazan, who was rushed to the hospital after the game due to exhaustion.
Import J’Nathan Bullock and Jericho Cruz scored 18 points apiece for ROS, which came into the game riding the crest of its 105-73 demolition of the TNT KaTropa side last week.
Rain Or Shine also beat Star without Beau Belga, who served his one-game suspension after accumulating the league’s limit of six technical or flagrant fouls.
“I need to step up because Beau (Belga) is out,” said Almazan.