MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters bucked the absence of their big men to topple defending champions Meralco Bolts, 128-116, in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Leonard Santillan led the way with 27 points, including three three-point conversions, while Adrian Nocum chipped in 24 points, with 22 coming in the second half, as the Painters improved to a 2-1 win-loss slate.
Gian Mamuyac contributed 24 markers, mostly coming in the third period, while Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti, Gabe Norwood, and Jhonard Clarito ended with 13, 12, and 10 points, respectively, for the Painters.
The Painters were shorthanded with the absence of Beau Belga (vertigo), Caelan Tiongson (back spasms), Shawn Ildefonso (right ankle sprain), Keith Datu (right calf), and Luis Villegas (ACL surgery).
“We just tried to play to our strong suit, which is playing with a lot of paces. We wanted to get out and keep on attacking the defense of Meralco,” said Painters head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao after the game.
“Alam naming maliliit kami, so ang advantage namin is really our quickness and speed, and we don’t have our bigs. The only way for us to win is to keep playing fast, which we always do anywhere,” he added.
Holding to a slim 66-59 advantage at the half, the Painters went on a huge run in the third quarter behind Mamuyac, Pangilinan-Lemetti, Norwood, and Nocum as the lead reached its largest at 27 points at 112-85.
The Bolts countered with their outside shooting to cut the deficit to 108-120, but defensive stops from the Painters and a layup and two free throws from Nocum sealed their second straight win.
Kier John Quinto top-scored for the Bolts with 23 points, Raymar Jose and rookie Crispin John Cansino added 21 markers apiece, and Chris Banchero contributed 14 points as they fell to their third straight loss for a 2-3 mark.
Meanwhile, Converge FiberXers overcame TNT Tropang 5G’s numerous fightbacks to escape with a 100-94 victory. Justin Arana led the way with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds, while rookie Justine Baltazar chipped in 21 markers and 12 boards./PN
BOX SCORE:
RAIN OR SHINE 128 – Santillan 27, Mamuyac 24, Nocum 24, Lemetti 13, Norwood 12, Clarito 10, Malonzo 9, Caracut 7, Borboran 2, Asistio 0.
MERALCO 116 – Quinto 23, Jose 21, Cansino 21, Banchero 14, Hodge 8, Caram 7, Bates 6, Black 5, Rios 4, Newsome 3, Reyson 2, Almazan 2, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 29-28, 66-59, 102-82, 128-116.
