Rain or Shine proved to be the steadier team, outplaying Blackwater down the stretch in a 110-100 win in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
The Elasto Painters got into their rhythm at the most opportune time to keep the young Bossing at bay and rise to a 2-1 record.
‘We just got our run at the right time,’ Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said.
‘It was a tough endgame situation but we were able to manage to put together a scoring run. We knew their three-point shot was a weapon and we knew that coming in but even if you knew it’s coming it’s hard to stop.’
The two teams went back-and-forth until Rain or Shine broke the game wide open with a 16-3 run capped by a jumper by Adrian Nocum that gave the Painters a 101-91 lead with 2:52 remaining.
Keith Datu led Rain or Shine’s balanced effort with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Nocum had 17.
Jhonard Clarito and Gian Mamuyact tallied 16 and 13 points, respectively, as Rain or Shine bounced back from a loss to San Miguel Beer.
Richard Escoto and Jack Cruz-Dumont each posted 20 points to pace the Bossing, while Christian David nearly recorded a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Blackwater dropped to 1-2.1