Painters turn back Boosters
PLAYING as a champion team for the first time, Rain or Shine last night chopped down fancied Petron Blaze with conviction, 102-86, even with the Elasto Painters making their PBA Philippine Cup debut without their biggest star.
The Painters, who won their first league title in last season’s Governors’ Cup, grabbed control in the third period and never lost grip of it at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao tried downplaying the big win, but it was clear that his squad outplayed the Boosters and took the highly hyped No. 1 overall pick Jun Mar Fajardo out of his comfort zone for the lopsided win.
“As I said before the game, this is the best time to play Petron,” Guiao told reporters. “They’re still in transition and they’ll be a lot dangerous in another three to four games. We were lucky we were their first foes.”
Jeff Chan scored 20 points and the Painters shot close to 52 percent from two-point zone in breaking free from what had been a close first half to join Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Barako Bull as debut winners.
Rain or Shine played without last season’s Rookie of the Year Paul Lee and then lost rookie Chris Tiu late in the second quarter because of a hamstring pull. The Painters even had to do without Beau Belga in the final 5:58 after a flagrant foul 1 call.
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo literally bled his way to nine points and 12 rebounds, suffering a small cut in the left eyebrow with 11:16 left in the fourth period after getting entangled with Ryan Arana and Jervy Cruz.
Ronald Tubid scored four of Barako Bull’s final five points and keyed a 90-87 victory over Air21 in the first game.
The veterans-laden Energy Cola got more than what they bargained for from the much-maligned Air21 lineup with the outcome in the balance until Tubid’s heroics sealed the outcome. The scores: First Game BARAKO BULL 90— Tubid 19, Anthony 18, Kramer 14, Pennisi 11, Urbiztondo 8, Najorda 7, Villanueva 7, Yap 4, Marcelo 2, Cervantes 0, Cruz 0.
AIR21 87— Baclao 18, Wilson 17, Isip 16, Canaleta 16, Arboleda 7, Custodio 4, Omolon 4, Sena 3, Taha 2, Atkins 0, Ritualo 0. Quarters: 26-27, 49-48, 71-69, 90-87 Second Game RAIN OR SHINE 102— Chan 20, Cruz 13, Quinahan 13, Ibanes 13, Belga 9, Matias 8, Norwood 8, Rodriguez 6, Arana 6, Tang 3, Tiu 2, Uyloan 1.
PETRON 86— Yeo 16, Santos 16, Cabagnot 12, Miranda 11, Fajardo 9, Lutz 8, Washington 7, Pena 4, Mallari 3, Ildefonso 0.
Quarters: 23-23, 46-47, 78-68, 102-86