ROS NEARS LAST 8
BEAU LEADS E-PAINTERS OVER B-PIER
Games tomorrow (PhilSports Arena) 4:30 p.m. – Converge vs San Miguel Beer 7:30 p.m. – Ginebra vs TNT Out of the gate, Rain or Shine dropped 12 unanswered points on NorthPort.
That early bombardment set the tone for the Elasto Painters, who stayed in full control en route to a 115-105 romp in the PBA Philippine Cup yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The wire-to-wire victory over the Batang Pier extended the E-Painters’ streak to a fifth game running, which sent them up to sixth in the team standings at 5-4.
Yeng Guiao’s resurgent troops moved a step closer to a quarterfinal berth while keeping NorthPort, which skidded to its third straight setback, stuck at four wins against as ßmany losses.
Veteran Beau Belga rifled in a career high 28 points that went with 13 rebounds, his strong performance rubbing off on the young guns like Jhonard Clarito and Adrian Nocum, who turned in 17 and 16, respectively.
“Natutuwa kami kasi consistent si Beau,” coach Yeng Guiao said of Belga, who made a new personal best score two weeks after netting 25 as part of a milestone triple-double feat with 12 boards and 10 dimes in a 11090 rout of Converge.
“Kailangan niyang magdouble time. Kulang kami sa malaki, hindi pa nakakalaro sila Keith Datu at Luis (Villegas). Pero pinupunan ni Beau.”
Belga sparked ROS’ sizzling 12-0 starnt wdith a booming triple and a transition basket. He made 10 in the first.
NOTES: Meralco player Raymond Almazan was slammed by authorities for allegedly bribing a traffic enforcer after being caught illegally using the exclusive EDSA Bus Carousel lane. The Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation apprehended Almazan last April 15. The scores: Rain or Shine 115 – Belga 28, Clarito 17, Nocum 16, Borboran 12, Caracut 8, Asistio 7, Mamuyac 6, Santillan 5, Ildefonso 5, Belo 5, Demusis 4, Paredes 2.
NorthPort 105 – Lucero 29, Bulanadi 26, Rosales 12, Tolentino 11, Flores 9, Amores 8, Munzon 6, Navarro 4, Paraiso 0, Yu 0, Zamar 0, Cuntapay 0, Adamos 0.
Quarterscores: 24-14, 48-38, 81-72, 115-105