ROS SURVIVES UGLY OUTING
Rey Nambatac sank two free throws with 1.3 seconds left as the E- Painters survived a woeful 29.7 percent shooting (22-of-74) and picked up their third consecutive win to tie the Tropang Giga at the top.
The luckless Batang Pier, who recovered from a record-tying two-point output in the third quarter to close the gap in the dying seconds, slipped to 0-3. “Today was really an ugly win for us. I wanted a better game, a better production from everybody and I think we can do better than this,” said ROS coach Caloy Garcia. “Maybe playing our third consecutive game since Tuesday took its toll on the players. Hopefully we get some rest and try to get everybody back to being 100 percent in our next game on Thursday,” he added. Later, Barangay Ginebra joined the pacesetters as the Gin Kings reasserted their mastery over Meralco, 105-91, on the night Mark Caguioa set a new all-time record for most seasons in a single ballclub at 18. The Gin Kings broke away from the Bolts – their vanquished foe in the last Governors Cup finals – in the second quarter en route to a spotless 3-0. The scores: First Game Rain or Shine 70 – Wong 15, Onwubere 11, Nambatac 10, Mocon 6, Doliguez 6, Belga 5, Yap 5 , Torres 5, Araña 3, Norwood 2, Ponferada 2, Rosales 0, Borboran 0. NorthPort 68 – Lanete 13 , Anthony 13 , Standhardinger 13, Nabong 10, Taha 4, Cruz 3, Revilla 7, Manganti 3, Subido 0, Elorde 2, Guinto 0 Quarterscores: 14-25, 32-38, 46-40, 70-68 Second Game Barangay Ginebra 105 – J. Aguilar 20, Pringle 16. Chan 12, Tolentino 11, Caperal 9, Mariano 8, Thompson 7, Tenorio 6, Devance 6, Dillinger 5, Balanza 3, Caguioa 2, Salado 0, R. Aguilar 0. Meralco 91 – Maliksi 18, Hugnatan 16. Amer 10, Newsome 10, Jackson 6, Almazan 6, Black 5, Hodge 5, Quinto 4, Jamito 4, Jose 3, Pinto 2, Caram 2, Faundo 0, Salva 0. Quarterscores: 20-20, 51-39, 74-60, 105-91