Painters get back at Aces, even series

Game Sunday (MOA Arena)

5 p.m. – San Miguel vs Talk n Text

MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao got to be on their bench only in the second half due to traffic jam, but this didn’t prevent the Elasto Painters from dominating and forging a series jam with the Alaska Milk Aces.

The Elasto Painters came out stronger than they did in Game One and made sure to play tough to the finish this time as they got back at the Aces, 102-95, in Game Two of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal series at the Mall of Asia Arena Saturday night.

The two teams are squared up at one-game-all as they meet again at 7 p.m. Monday at the same venue.

On Sunday, San Miguel Beer goes for a two-game-to-nil lead versus Talk n Text in their own semis showdown.

Cool and steady were the Elasto Painters that Guiao just stayed on the bench and let assistant coach Caloy Garcia finish a good job allowing them to ease the pain of an 80-87 loss Thursday.

“When coach Yeng arrived at halftime, he said we just continue what we’re doing. It was a total team effort and it’s an important win,” said Garcia.

“We put an effort from the beginning to secure the lead. We were erratic in the fourth quarter in the first game. There’s still a part of the fourth quarter this time that we’re turning the ball over. But we held on to win,” Garcia also said.

Jervy Cruz and Jonathan Uyloan provided big push throughout and Paul Lee came through with clutch 3-pointers in the payoff period as the E-Painters foiled the Aces’ bid to take a 2-0 lead.

Cruz dished out his best game in his return from an injury, piling up 19 points and 12 rebounds while Uyloan fired a career-high 18 points and also got four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Lee contributed 13 markers including two three-pointers that fended off Alaska’s fourth-quarter chase.

Gabe Norwood, JR Quinahan and Raymond Almazan put in significant help as the E-Painters took control from start to finish, giving Guiao not much worries as he’s tuned in on the PBA radio coverage while stuck in traffic coming from the C5 area.

The E-Painters were sitting on a 19-point cushion at the half when Guiao finally showed up.

The RoS starting unit of Uyloan, Norwood, Almazan, Jeff Chan and Beau Belga overwhelmed Alaska counterparts Cyrus Baguio, Jvee Casio, Tony dela Cruz, Calvin Abueva and Sonny Thoss, 34-10, in the first half.

And with Cruz, Lee, Quinahan, Ryan Arana and Jireh Ibanes providing sustaining power off the bench, the E-Painters stormed to 55-36 lead at the turn.

It could’ve been worse for the Aces if Eric Menk didn’t come out firing.

The 40-year-old one-time league MVP scored 11 points on 5-of-7 field-goal clip and 3-of-3 charities in the first two quarters and finished with a team-high 18 markers.

Alaska also gained charity points on a flagrant foul committed by Arana on Chris Banchero and a technical foul drawn by Quinahan.

Two charities apiece by Arana and Chan and triple each from Uyloan and Norwood made the decisive run opening the 19-point first-half spread for the E-Painters.

Alaska whittled down the deficit to nine in the third period then came within five twice in the fourth before Lee took charge for the E-Painters.