MANILA, Philippines -- The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters put behind them their heartbreaking loss to the Alaska Aces the last time out and clobbered the Barako Bull Energy Cola, 106-97, to assure themselves of a playoff shot at a quarterfinals twice-to-beat edge in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The E-Painters built a 23-point lead in the third quarter and hardly relaxed to the finish, pulling closer to a second-place finish in the elimination round with a 9-4 win-loss card.
“We didn’t want to commit the same mistake we made against Alaska. We got a big lead and lost it as we relaxed. We made sure that same thing didn’t happen today,†said RoS coach Yeng Guiao.
“We were able to push the pace as planned. High scoring ball game is good for us. And I thought they gave up early on their import. They didn’t use him most of the second half, and that was good for us,†Guiao also said.
Barako Bull consultant Rajko Toroman kept import DJ Mbenga on the bench to the end after they fell behind by 23 at 61-84.
The closer the Energy Cola could get was within eight before eventually suffering a ninth loss against four wins.
They need to win their last game against the Globalport Batang Pier tomorrow and hope the Air21 Express lose to the Petron Blaze Boosters tonight to get a playoff crack at the eighth and last quarters slot.
The Scores:
ROS 106 – Sundov 25, Lee 19, Arana 18, Tiu 12, Cruz 7, Matias 6, Norwood 4, Chan 4, Rodriguez 4, Belga 3, Jaime 2, Quinahan 2, Tang 0, Ibanes 0.
Barako Bull 97 – Seigle 19, Pennisi 17, Urbiztondo 12, Maliksi 10, Mbenga 9, Macapagal 8, Intal 6, Monfort 5, Anthony 5, Kramer 4, Cruz 2, Duncil 0.
Quarters: 26-14; 48-38; 84-67, 106-97