Painters take luster off Elite, share lead

Game Wednesday (MOA Arena)

4:15 p.m. – Alaska vs Mahindra

7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Washington came off the bench and played quality minutes down the stretch in helping Rain or Shine get past Blackwater, 95-88, for a share of the lead with Meralco in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Ynares Sports Center.

Washington drained two dagger three-pointers to cap 13 minutes of solid action as the Elasto Painters rallied to seal the win and join the Bolts atop the heap at 3-0.

The two teams dispute the solo lead in an exciting showdown Wednesday over at the MOA Arena in Pasay.

Jericho Cruz shook off a personal slump, firing 10 of his 12 points in the third quarter, then Shawn Taggart took over early in the fourth as Rain or Shine kept its perfect record (10-0) in head-to-head showdowns with Blackwater in three years.

“We just focused and started playing defense in the fourth quarter,” said Taggart.

The Elite, behind another huge double-double game of former Houston Rocket Greg Smith, took control most of the way only to break down at the finish. They fell to their third straight defeat.

Smith himself fired blanks in the homestretch, putting to waste his monster numbers of 34 points and 20 rebounds.

Taggart had only 26 markers and 12 caroms but drew all the needed help from the ROS local crew led by Cruz, Maverick Ahanmisi and James Yap with their double-digit productions.

Washington, however, seized the moment at endgame with his two three-pointers that went with a crucial block on Smith and couples of rebounds.

From 84-87 down, the E-Painters thwarted the Elite on an 11-1 closing run actually highlighted by three treys, with the first one coming from Ahanmisi.

TNT KaTropa sprang back strong from its five-point loss to Meralco Friday, using a torrid shooting to spill Phoenix Petroleum, 134-109, in the nightcap.

Jayson Castro, taking an extended rest in their game against the Bolts, finally plunged back into action and was among the Texters who churned out sterling efforts in handing the Fuel Masters another blowout loss.

Castro and his teammates pummeled the Fuel Masters badly in the middle quarters to open a 100-75 spread going into the final canto.

NOTES: The PBA announced yesterday the All-Star and Gilas lineups slugging it out in All-Star settos in Cagayan de Oro, Lucena and Cebu next month. Making the Mindanao All Stars playing Gilas in CDO are Mark Barroca, Scottie Thompson, PJ Simon, Rafi Reavis, Mac Belo, Jio Jalalon, RR Garcia, Sonny Thoss, Carlo Lastimosa, Glenn Khobuntin, Baser Amer and Troy Rosario. In Lucena, composing the All Stars are Marc Pingris, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Paul Lee, Jayson Castro, Mark Caguioa, Alex Cabagnot, LA Tenorio, Marcio Lassiter, Arwind Santos, Ranidel de Ocampo and Stanley Pringle. Finally, the Visayan All Stars playing Gilas in Cebu are James Yap, June Mar Fajardo, Terrence Romeo, Joe Devance, Jeff Chan, Chris Ross, Chris Ellis, Aldrech Ramos, Dondon Hontiveros, Ronald Tubid, Asi Taulava and Jericho Cruz.

The scores:

First Game

ROS 95 – Taggart 26, Ahanmisi 12, Cruz 12, Yap 11, Belga 9, Chan 8, Tiu 8, Washington 6, Norwood 2, Ponferrada 1, Almazan 0

BLACKWATER 88 – Smith 34, Cervantes 12, Pascual 10, Belo 7, Buenafe 7, Pinto 7, Sena 6, Sumang 3, Aguilar 2, DiGregorio 0, Forrester 0, Gamalinda 0, Miranda 0: Quarterscores: 26-29, 44-47, 68-70, 95-88

Second Game

TNT 134 – Amundson 20, De Ocampo 18, Rosario 18, Pogoy 17, Tautuaa 14, Williams 12, Castro 10, Reyes 10, Carey 6, Fonacier 3, Hernandez 3, Rosales 3, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Tamsi 0.

PHOENIX 109 – McKay 31, Baguio 17, Dehesa 12, Kramer 12, Jazul 11, Intal 8, Viernes 6, Miranda 5, W. Wilson 5, Alolino 2, Borboran 0, Torres 0, J. Wilson 0, Wright 0: Quarterscores: 31-30, 59-48, 100-75, 134-109