Elasto Painters slay Giants, reach playoff

Rain or Shine survived James Yap’s 32-point explosion, going to Sol Mercado and Rob Wainwright for the clutch shots as the Elasto Painters secured a first-ever PBA playoffs stint with an 82-76 win over the Purefoods Giants last night at the Astrodome.

Mercado and Wainwright combined for seven three-pointers and a total of 33 points, leading the Elasto Painters to a repeat win over the Giants and jacking up their win-loss record to 9-6 entering the homestretch of the KFC PBA Philippine Cup double-round elimination phase.

San Miguel Beer stayed on equal footing with Rain or Shine as it held off Red Bull, 89-84, in the second game.

The Bulls reeled to an eighth straight defeat and slid deeper down the cellar at 3-11.

“It was a total team effort. We really played well today. Everybody stepped up. Emotions were high, nobody wanted to lose,” said coach Caloy Garcia as his team notched a third straight win – another “first” for the three-year-old Asian Coating franchise.

“We’re now assured of at least a .500 mark but Top Five is now our target. The opportunity is there so why not grab it,” Garcia said.

Mark Isip and JayR Reyes also put in big numbers as the Elasto Painters stopped the Giants on their tracks, handing them their eighth loss against seven wins.

Isip made 14 points and six rebounds while Reyes came through with 15 rebounds and five points.

Rain or Shine has made it four in a row over Purefoods in their head-on duels dating back to last conference.

The Giants looked poised to snap the Elasto Painters’ streak when they made a big turnaround from a 12-point deficit, seizing a 61-57 lead going into the payoff period.

Kerby Raymundo pumped in eight of his 17 points in a 15-to-nothing tear, making it 61-55 earlier.

Mercado and Wainwright, however, answered back for Rain or Shine in the payoff period, and the Elasto Painters went on to duplicate their 88-84 win over the Giants in their previous tiff.