MANILA — Rain or Shine Elasto Painters locked up a top-four finish and a coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinals after riding a blistering three-point shooting display to a 101-92 victory over Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots on Monday night (Tuesday in the Philippines) at the Khalifa City Sports Stadium in Bahrain.
The Elasto Painters drilled 17 of 32 shots from beyond the arc for a sizzling 53 percent, overpowering Magnolia from start to finish to stretch their winning streak to three games and reclaim the solo lead in the standings at 8-2 at the close of the single-round elimination.
Jhonard Clarito spearheaded the perimeter assault with 21 points, including a perfect 2-of-2 from deep. Caelan Tiongson and Gian Mamuyac each scored 14 points, with Tiongson hitting four triples and Mamuyac adding timely baskets down the stretch. Adrian Nocum chipped in 13 points, while Stanley Pringle posted his best outing with Rain or Shine, scoring nine highlighted by three triples during a decisive third-quarter run.
Rain or Shine seized control early and stretched the lead to as much as 16 points, 74-58, in the third period behind Pringle’s outside shooting. Magnolia attempted a late comeback in the fourth, trimming the deficit to 91-96, but Mamuyac answered with five straight points to secure the win for the league-leading Painters.
Magnolia’s uphill climb was made steeper when guards Jerom Lastimosa and Paul Lee sustained injuries in the first half and failed to return, disrupting the Hotshots’ rotation and backcourt rhythm.
Andy Mark Barroca led Magnolia with 14 points, followed by Peter Alfaro with 13 and Juan Gomez de Liano with 12. Zavier Lucero was held to nine points, well below his team-leading average of 17.4./PN
BOX SCORE
RAIN OR SHINE (101) – Clarito 21, Mamuyac 14, Tiongson 14, Nocum 13, Pringle 9, Santillan 8, Porter 8, Caracut 4, Norwood 4, Malonzo 3, Belga 3, Ildefonso 0, Pangilinan-Lemetti 0.
MAGNOLIA (92) – Barroca 14, Alfaro 13, De Liano 12, Dela Rosa 10, Sangalang 10, Lucero 9, Lee 8, Koon 6, Verano 4, Laput 3, Lastimosa 3, Gomez 0.
Quarterscores: 27-24; 53-47; 81-69; 101-92.
