RAIN or Shine pulled off an impressive comeback in the endgame to repulse crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra, 88-84, as it drew first blood in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series at the Cuneta Astrodome Sunday night.
The Elasto Painters inched closer to a semifinal ticket as they lead their best-of-three series, 1-0, after an explosive performance against the Gin Kings.
JR Quinahan and Jeff Chan led Rain or Shine’s sizzling comeback after the team fell down by 19 points in the first half. Quinahan finished with 17 points, while Chan added 15 – including the game-clinching jumper in the dying seconds for Rain or Shine.
Import Pierre Henderson-Niles made 12 points and 10 boards.
“It’s a hard struggle every time we play Ginebra in the playoffs,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao. “But we just really kept our focus, played it possession per possession and just hung in there.”
Ginebra started off hot with Mark Caguioa sparking a run that caught Rain or Shine off-guard, scoring eight points to give the Gin Kings a 27-12 advantage. They padded their cushion to 19, 35-16, in the second quarter before the Elasto Painters clawed back in the game.
Rain or Shine unleashed a crippling 22-4 run and pulled to within one, 39-38.
Chan’s triple in the opening minutes of the third quarter gave Rain or Shine the lead, 43-41.
It was a seesaw battle since then with the game ending in a 70-all deadlock entering the final quarter.
Talk N Text, meantime, relied on the heroics of rookie Troy Rosario to turn back Alaska, 106-99, in their own best-of-three showdown.
Rosario capped the night with a career-high 31 points, including seven big triples that thwarted the Aces’ rally in the endgame.
The No.2 overall pick waxed hot all game, having 18 points and four out of six triples in the first half alone as the Tropang Texters held a 57-44 lead.
And when Alaska pulled off one of its signature comeback in the fourth quarter, Rosario was there to douse it.
“Troy made big shots in the end,” said Talk N Text coach Jong Uichico. “You really can’t discount Alaska. Hindi ka makaka-relax.”
The Aces scored eight unanswered points early in the final frame to grab the lead, 86-85, after a Rob Dozier slam dunk and-one.
Rosario responded with back-to-back triples as both teams exchanged baskets. Another triple for him tied the game at 94-all with 3:05 remaining.
TNT was just up by two, 99-97, when Rosario delivered another huge basket with 59 seconds left. When Jayson Castro missed a fastbreak layup, the young forward completed his trail job with a putback and-one to push their lead.
Dozier pulled Alaska within three, 102-99, but free throws by Ranidel De Ocampo in the end sealed the TNT win.
TNT import David Simon also scored 24 points and 14 boards. Castro and De Ocampo ended up with 17 and 13, respectively.
Alaska was led by Dozier’s 22 points.
The scores:
First game
Talk N Text (106) — Rosario 31, Simon 34, Castro 17, De Ocampo 13, Ababou 6, Williams 5, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Tautuaa 4, Carey 2, Fonacier 0, R Reyes 0, J Reyes 0.
Alaska (99) — Dozier 22, Abueva 18, Eximiniano 11, Banchero 10, Thoss 8, Jazul 7, Manuel 6, Baclao 4, Hontiveros 4, Dela Cruz 3, Menk 3, Dela Rosa 2, Baguio 1.
Quarterscores: 27-27; 57-44; 81-72; 106-99.
Second game
Rain or Shine (88) — Quinahan 17, Chan 15, Henderson-Niles 12, Ponferada 8, Tiu 8, Ahanmisi 6, Norwood 6, Lee 3, Almazan 2, Trollano 2, Belga 0, Ibanes 0.
Ginebra (84) — Temorio 20, Aguilar 13, Jeffers 12, Caguioa 10, Slaughter 10, Devance 7, Mercado 5, Ellis 4, Mercado 3, Thompson 0.
Quarterscores: 12-27; 40-41; 70-70; 88-84.
Games today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:15 p.m.—NLEX vs. Meralco
7 p.m. – Star vs. San Miguel