PBA: Rain or Shine beats Meralco, keeps playoffs hopes alive

By Jonas Terrado

Rain or Shine kept its slim quarterfinal hopes alive after ending the eliminations on a high note with an 83-81 win over Meralco in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Import Rich Ross had 26 points and 12 rebounds while Rey Nambatac scored 24 points as the Elasto Painters caught a big fish for the second straight game to finish the elims at 4-7.

Coach Caloy Garcia and his team will now bank on a NorthPort loss to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the second game to stay in the hunt for at least a playoff for the eighth and final quarters berth.

But Garcia lauded his team for the way the Elasto Painters performed in the last two games that included an upset of the San Miguel Beermen last Nov. 9 in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

“We showed heart today,” said Garcia. “We showed a lot of things that enabled us to beat two strong teams. That’s a testament to the hardwork of the locals and probably having Rich in the team changed a lot.”

Ross averaged 20.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in three games after Rain or Shine had to field three imports in Joel Wright, Kayel Locke and Kwame Alexander.

Allen Durham finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds but Meralco dropped to 8-3 at the conclusion of its elims assignment.

Meralco led 69-60 entering the fourth but Ross and Nambatac combined to put Rain or Shine on top.

A floater by Nambatac with 2:38 to go gave Rain or Shine an 82-77 lead but Meralco scored four straight to cut the margin to a point on Raymond Almazan’s basket, 47 seconds left.

Jewel Ponferada split his two foul shots after an Almazan foul for 83-81 with 34.3 seconds left but Nambatac stole the ball from fellow Letranite and Bolts rookie Bong Quinto.

The Bolts had another chance to tie the score after Durham blocked Ponferada’s shot before leading a fastbreak. He found Almazan underneath for a potential basket but was unable to convert two high-percentage attempts at the buzzer.

Scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 83 — Ross 26, Nambatac 24, Exciminiano 8, Borboran 4, Ponferada 4, Mocon 4, Norwood 4, Rosales 3, Torres 3, Belga 3, Daquioag 0.

MERALCO 81 — Durham 23, Amer 18, Almazan 18, Newsome 12, Quinto 6, Pinto 2, Caram 2, Faundo 0, Hodge 0, Salva 0.

Quarters: 23-21; 41-42; 60-69; 83-81.

Source: Manila Bulletin