Painters, Wizards edge rivals, close in on finals

Marvin Ortiguerra provided the firepower while Gilbert Malabanan came through with a key defensive stop down the stretch as Rain or Shine outsteadied Harbour Centre, 69-67, yesterday to move within a win of advancing to the finals for the fifth straight time in the 2006 PBL Heroes Cup at the San Andres Gym in Manila.

RJ Rizada scored on a putback with two seconds to go as Magnolia Ice Cream rallied to beat Granny Goose, 98-97, in double overtime to likewise move closer to the finals.

The Wizards trailed by 17 points in regulation but worked their way back to force two extensions with Rizada, a standout out of Far Eastern U, coming up with big baskets in both occasions.

Trailing, 96-97, after Nestor David hit a follow up with six seconds to left in the game, Magnolia went to Rizada, who responded again by sinking the shot that mattered most.

Ortiguerra and Jay-R Reyes had 15 points apiece while leading MVP race candidate Jojo Tangkay scattered eight of his 11 in the fourth quarter as the Elasto Painters gained a 2-0 edge in their best-of-five showdown.

"We were able to dictate the tempo of the game, we minimized their fastbreaks, and the most important, we controlled the boards," said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia, whose wards snared 48 rebounds against the Port Masters’ 38.

Joseph Yeo and Jerome Paterno tried to steer the Port Masters beyond the 3-point arc but they missed their shots, the last one sent Rain or Shine’s Jojo Tangkay to the free throw area.

Tangkay split his charities for a 68-65 Rain or Shine lead but Harbour refused to bow out as it closed to within 67-68 on two charities by Yeo, 19 seconds left in the contest.

Harbour had another chance to turn the game around after it bungled two charities but Yeo uncharacteristically lost the ball to a hustling Malabanan who chased the former La Salle ace and broke what could’ve been Harbour’s winning play.

Reyes was fouled in the next play and although the 6-foot-5 center came up with a split, it was enough to preserve the victory for Rain or Shine as LA Tenorio muffed a desperate three-point shot as time expired.