E-Painters thwart Star in shining start

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Blackwater vs NLEX

7 p.m. – Talk n Text vs Alaska

MANILA, Philippines - Rain or Shine played catch-up basketball through the first three quarters before unleashing a decisive salvo in the final period to turn back Star, 96-87, in the opener of the 2015-16 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night.

JR Quiñahan, Chris Tiu, Jericho Cruz, Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood worked on that fourth-quarter romp carrying the Elasto Painters to a triumphant season start versus the Hotshots and their debuting coach Jason Webb.

“It’s an ugly win. We couldn’t get rhythm in the first half offensively and defensively. We just tried to be patient, and our patience paid off,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“It’s a little difficult as we prepared for a Sunday game then for today’s game. There are a lot of adjustments – to the new calls, my rookies, new acquisitions. I had some doubts earlier especially without Paul (Lee),” Guiao also said. “Eventually, we settled down, got a rhythm going and that’s the key.”

From a 12-point deficit at 11-23, the E-Painters trailed all the way until Quiñahan sparked the team’s first important run to grab the lead, at 71-70, at the onset of the payoff period.

Then from 73-75, Quiñahan, Tiu, Cruz, Norwood and Belga joined forces in an assault that completely turned the game around for the E-Painters.

Lee, the team’s ace playmaker, was confined on the bench and will be missing probably the first four weeks of the tourney due to a knee injury.

But Tiu and Cruz ably made up for Lee’s absence at least in this game. The two combined for 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Ranged against the Hotshots’ tall, young frontline, Quiñahan and Belga rose to the challenge, delivering 17 and 11 points, respectively.

Belga showed up the comebacking Ian Sanggalang in the crunch, scoring eight points in the team’s lethal 13-6 tear from a 79-75 count.

“The Hotshots have got a brand new look. Jason (Webb) will make a good coach,” said Guiao.

The two teams engaged in a run-and-gun duel with the Hotshots looking impressive in dominating the first half.

  James Yap came out firing, gunning down 13 points as the Hotshots took the half at 47-40.

Buckling down to work early, the Hotshots established a first double-digit spread at 21-11 nine minutes into the contest.

Rafi Reavis scored the first point of the season from the line then Norwood nailed a jumper for the E-Painters’ first basket.

The Hotshots seized control at 17-10 and kept a safe margin through the first half.