E-Painters buck relentless B Pier

Games tomorrow (MOA Arena)

5:45 p.m. – Talk n Text vs

San Mig Coffee 8 p.m. – Petron vs Barako Bull

MANILA, Philippines -  Seventh-ranked Globalport was relentless throughout but second seed Rain or Shine was simply superior in all fronts as the Elasto Painters kept their winning form, 106-96, claiming the first slot in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night.

Riding the momentum of a franchise record run dating back to last December, the Elasto Painters pulled away early and showed composure under pressure at the finish as the Asian Coating ball club made the all-Filipino semis for the third straight time.

They advanced to the semis against the winner of the Petron-Barako Bull quarterfinal matchup.

Globalport took the exit in the tourney, curiously sent to the door by former player Beau Belga.

The 6-foot-6 sweet-shooting center, who spent his amateur days with Harbour Centre (Globalport), helped Rain or Shine to a good start and came back late in the game to deliver practically everything for the

Elasto Painters.

The Batang Pier had rallied to within two,

96-98, from 16 points down, 63-79, when Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao tapped in Belga with less than two minutes left to play.

He immediately connected with a booming trey then later buried three charities, aside from making a steal and getting a rebound in a big finish carrying the Elasto Painters to the semis of this tourney where they wound up second behind Talk n Text last year.

A team that has carved a niche in the league for its consistency, Rain or Shine is in the semis for the fourth time in the last five conferences.

The only time the E-Painters failed to reach the Final Four was in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup where they bungled a twice-to-beat advantage against eventual second-placer Barangay Ginebra.

They made it sure not to experience the same thing against Globalport.

“Globalport kept coming back. I thought they’d given up in the third quarter but we just couldn’t put them away,” said Guiao.

“Credit goes to the guys. We kept our win streak but I don’t want to focus on that. We want to focus on the semis,” added Guiao whose team advanced to the semis on an eighth straight victory.

Living up to their trademark, the Elasto Painters pulled a solid effort together as they avenged their 88-90 upset by the Batang Pier in their elimination-round faceoff last Dec. 8.

Jervy Cruz had a near double-double job with 18 points and eight rebounds while Belga went 3-of-4 from the three-point land and ended up with 17 markers, six rebounds and four steals.
Meanwhile, Alaska Milk, fighting with much emotion, survived a third straight do-or-die game, stunning top seed Barangay Ginebra, 104- 97, to force a second game in their own quarters matchup.

Winning three knockout battles in four days, the Aces finally get some breather before facing the Gin Kings in a deciding encounter Saturday.

“Winning back-to-back games gave us a bit of confidence. It’s beyond coaching at this point,” said Alaska coach Luigi Trillo. “I don’t want to feel satisfied. It’s just one game.”