MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters leaned on a strong start to defeat the slumping Blackwater Bossing, 122-106, in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Adrian Nocum tallied 22 points to go with five rebounds, three steals, one assist, and a block to be named Player of the Game as the Painters stayed in second place with a 5-1 win-loss slate.
“Sa tingin ko ang nakakatulong sa akin is ‘yung transition (game), unang pundasyon talaga namin is ‘yung transition game, dun kasi kami nakakakuha ng baskets eh,” Nocum said in a post-game interview.
Deon Thompson had a double-double of 25 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Painters, Leonard Santillan added 20 markers, while Anton Asistion and Caelan Tiongson had 18 and 11, respectively.
“My primary concern before the game is how sharp with my players be coming off an almost three-week break. This is our first game in the new year and medyo concerned ako kung papaano nila lalaruin ito,” Painters head coach Joseller Guiao said.
“We had good practices pero iba pa din ‘yung sa actual na laro. We had a good first quarter but we really had a bad second quarter, but what’s good about it is it’s a game of runs, and we had enough runs for ourselves to win the game,” he added.
George King tallied 35 points and 12 rebounds, Mike Ayonayon added 11 markers, while Bacolodnon Justin Chua and Christian David had 10 points each as the Bossing dropped to a 1-6 record.
On Tuesday night, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson knocked down two go-ahead free throws as TNT Tropang Giga (3-2) pulled off a 101-99 escape over sister team Meralco Bolts (4-3).
After seeing their early 23-point advantage turned to a 99-all score on a conversion by Bolts’ Chris Banchero, Hollis-Jefferson surged the Tropang Giga ahead with two free throws with 10 seconds left.
Hollis-Jefferson finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists, Calvin Oftana also ended with 24 markers, with 17 coming in the first half, while Rey Nambatac and Roger Pogoy had 15 and 12 markers, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
RAIN OR SHINE 122 – Thompson 25, Nocum 22, Santillan 20, Asistio 18, Tiongson 11, Clarito 9, Demusis 8, Caracut 6, Ildefonso 1, Belga 0, Norwood 0, Lemetti 0, Escandor 0.
BLACKWATER 106 – King 35, Ayonayon 11, David 10, Chua 10, Escoto 9, Ponferrada 6, Suerte 6, Kwekuteye 5, Jopia 5, Hill 4, Casio 3, Corteza 2, Guinto 0.
Quarterscores: 39-25, 56-47, 94-79, 122-106.
