Elasto Painters pummel winless Dyip

MANILA, Philippines -- The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters kept Terrafirma winless in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, unleashing a furious fourth quarter to crush the Dyip, 124-112, Sunday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The Painters ended the game with a 20-4 run to leave the Dyip on their rear-view mirror. They won their fourth straight game to rise to 4-1, while the Dyip lost their seven straight contest in the conference.

Deon Thompson carried the load for the Elasto Painters with 23 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. Adrian Nocum erupted in the second half, finishing with 21 markers, 17 of which came in the final two quarters.

After figuring in a back-and-forth battle in the third and fourth frames, Terrafirma had a slight separation in the final canto, 108-104, after back-to-back layups by Louie Sangalang.

But Rain or Shine tightened up on defense and uncorked 13 unanswered points capped by a pair of freebies by Thompson.

A layup by Mark Nonoy finally broke the dry spell of the Dyip, 110-107, with 1:37 left, but Nocum dialed in from deep to plunge the dagger, 120-110, with 1:22 remaining.

Free throws by Aljun Melecio made it an eight-point game, 112-120. But free throws by Andrei Caracut, as well as a jumper by Caelan Tiongson, iced the game.

Terrafirma found their groove early, going up by 12, 37-25, in the first quarter.

Rain or Shine, though, found is own rhythm and overcame them in the second frame, leading by as much as eight, 66-58.

But the Dyip unleashed 17 straight points to go up by nine, 77-66, and the Painters clawed out of the hole to set the stage on the nip-and-tuck final frame.

Caracut chipped in 15 for Rain or Shine, while Santi Santillan and Anton Asistio produced 11 and 10, respectively.

Brandon Edwards posted a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds for the freefalling Dyip, while Sangalang scored 21.

Brent Paraiso and Vic Manuel registered 16 and 12 points, respectively.

Both teams will return to action next year.