E-Painters sink BPier
Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – NLEX vs Blackwater 7 p.m. – Phoenix vs San Miguel
Chris Tiu returned to play in the last 3:20 mark with a busted lip and knocked in clutch baskets as Rain or Shine outfought GlobalPort, 96-90, in a fight-marred setto to reclaim the solo lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Tiu scored the first basket upon the resumption of play after a melee that caused the ejection of GlobalPort center/forward Kelly Nabong and Rain or Shine guard Maverick Ahanmisi.
Then at 89-83, Tiu buried a three-pointer that gave the Elasto Painters a cushion they preserved in notching a fifth win against a lone defeat.
The Batang Pier tote an even 3-3 mark heading to the All-Star Week with separate festivities in Digos, Davao del Sur on Wednesday, in Batangas City on Friday and Iloilo City on Sunday.
“It’s good that we’re at No. 1 but it’s a long way to go. We’re just halfway through the eliminations,” said ROS coach Caloy Garcia.
The E-Painters clearly outmaneuvered the Batang Pier, though, in the match that saw a lot of elbows flying and bodies sprawling all over the floor.
Tiu was a recipient of a wayward elbow by Malcolm White and was out of the game for quite a while with a busted lip.
But as soon as he recovered, the former Ateneo hotshot was back on the floor and delivered the key buckets to cap a 10-point outing he laced with six assists, four rebounds and one steal against three turnovers.
“Another hard-earned victory for us. But at least, the players were able to keep their focus on the game after the scuffle. I also have to review the game as I don’t understand why Maverick was thrown out of the game when he didn’t put a fighting stance. He was pushed,” said Garcia.
The scores: First Game Rain Or Shine 96 – Johnson 18, Yap 14, Ahanmisi 13, Almazan 12, Tiu 10, Ponferada 9, Daquioag 7, Belga 6, Norwood 5, Torres 2, Nambatac 0.
GlobalPort 90 – White 21, Pringle 15, Anthony 14, Nabong 13, Tautuaa 8, Elorde 8, Grey 4, Javelona 3, Sargent 2, Guinto 2, Araña 0, Teng 0.
Quarterscores: 26-30, 45-45, 67-62, 96-90