MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters banked on its young players to score a 97-82 victory over Terrafirma Dyip in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup over the weekend at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Anton Asistio and Andrei Caracut top-scored with 14 points each, while Leonard Santillan and Shaun Ildefonso added 13 and 10 points, respectively, as the Painters improved to 4-6 slate.
The Painters notched its third straight win despite the absence of veterans Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood and sophomore guard Mike Nieto due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
The Painters went to work early with outside conversions from Santillan, Ildefonso and Asistio as they built a 33-18 lead. The advantage later grew to as high as 30 points in the second quarter.
The Dyip went on a strong run in the second half as they cut the deficit to as low as 11 points in the fourth quarter but nine straight points by Norbert Torres sealed the win for the Painters.
Aldrech Ramos top-scored with 21 points, while Joseph Gabayni, Eric Camson and John Paul Calvo contributed 12, 11 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Dyip dropped to 0-10 win-loss slate.
In the other match, Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (3-7) snapped its five-game losing skid with an 89-66 domination over Converge FiberXers (4-6) to keep its flickering playoffs hopes alive.
The Fuel Masters, behind Aljun Melecio and Matthew Wright, clobbered the misfiring FiberXers right in the first half, taking an 18-11 lead in the first quarter and a 57-20 spread heading into the halftime break.
And the Fuel Masters refused to get their foot off the pedal, pushing their drive to lead by as many as 35 points at 68-33 late in the third quarter following an inside hit by Elvin Jake Pascual.
Wright tallied 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals in his possible final game with the Fuel Masters, Jason Perkins chipped in 14, while Melecio, Tyler Tio and Larry Muyang contributed 12, 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
RAIN OR SHINE 97 – Caracut 14, Asistio 14, Santillan 13, Ildefonso 10, Torres 9, Ponferrada 9, Demusis 8, Nambatac 7, Mamuyac 7, Clarito 3, Borboran 2.
TERRAFIRMA 82 – Ramos 21, Gabayni 12, Camson 11, Calvo 10, Munzon 9, Cahilig 7, Mina 7, Javelona 3, Balagasay 2, Gomez de Liano 0, Tumalip 0.
Quarterscores: 33-18, 59-33, 78-63, 97-82./PN
