Game today (Tubod, Lanao del Norte)
5 p.m. – NLEX vs San Miguel
Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. – Blackwater vs Globalport
5:15 p.m. – Purefoods vs Ginebra
MANILA, Philippines - With a stern warning from their coach after a blowout loss, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters responded and came back strong to wallop the Barako Bull Energy, 99-71, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
The Elasto Painters dealt the Energy severe beating right in the opening quarter and sustained their dominant performance to the end in a big turnaround from a 76-99 defeat at the hands of the Talk n Text Tropang Texters last Sunday.
“Basically, the guys responded to the challenge of our coach,” said Rain or Shine assistant coach Caloy Garcia, calling the shots for the team in the absence of head coach Yeng Guiao.
“After the loss to Talk n Text, we reviewed the tape and we saw that we had no effort at all. Coach Yeng addressed that telling the guys that if they don’t play, we’ll move with trades,” Garcia pointed out. “That opened the eyes of the guys, making them realized that we really can’t relax.”
Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer, its three-game streak halted by Alaska Milk Wednesday, tries to get back on track as it tangles with NLEX in a Petron Blaze PBA on Tour matchup at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte at 5 p.m. today.
The E-Painters hardly relaxed, pushing hard through 48 minutes as they again went above .500 with a third win against two losses.
Jeff Chan drained four treys and finished with a double-double game with 23 points and 10 rebounds, leading Rain or Shine in another carnage of Barako Bull.
Dating back to 2012, the Elasto Painters have beaten the Energy 10 times in their last 11 games.
Barako Bull remained winless under coach Coy Banal, suffering its fourth straight loss in the all-Filipino tourney.
Staying focused on the game, the E-Painters pummeled the Energy from the opening tip and never let up as in their 117-88 massacre of the Kia Sorento last Oct. 29.
Rain or Shine dominated the Barako Bull with its sleek running game while holding the Energy to only two points in the first six minutes of play and to seven in the first quarter.
The E-Painters sustained the effort throughout even with a depleted rotation minus the injury-hit Chris Tiu, Ryan Araña and Jireh Ibañes.
Jervy Cruz also came through with a double-double job with 11 points and 10 rebounds while TY Tang added 12 points and the rest had their contributions.
“We totally had a different outlook coming from that loss to Talk n Text,” said Garcia. “We came out strong and it’s more of effort in response to coach Yeng’s challenge.”
The E-Painters clobbered the Energy on all fronts, leading by as many as 32 points, 99-67, before completing the rout.
The scores:
First Game
RAIN OR SHINE 99 – Chan 23, Tang 12, Cruz Jervy 11, Teng 10, Quiñahan 10, Uyloan 9, Cruz Jericho 8, Lee 7, Norwood 4, Almazan 3, Belga 2, Ibañes 0, Tiu 0, Araña 0.
BARAKO 71 – Intal 12, Wilson 12, Pennisi 11, Miranda 10, Garcia 8, Lastimosa 6, Fortuna 5, Salvador 2, Salva 2, Pascual 2, Marcelo 1, Paredes 0, Lanete 0.
Quarterscores: 25-7, 55-28, 72-48, 99-71