Gutsy Elite repel Elasto Painters

Games on Jan. 7 (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 p.m. – NLEX vs Phoenix

6:45 p.m. – GlobalPort vs Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines — Blackwater came out strong then endured a fierce battle with Rain or Shine at endgame to score a breakthrough over the Asian Coating Inc. franchise via a 92-87 decision in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome last night. 

Mac Belo, Mike DiGregorio, Allein Maliksi and rookie Toto Jose dished out sterling games to lead the Elite to their first victory over the Elasto Painters in four years.

TNT KaTropa played a lot better than the last time, making the stops and finding the mark as it whipped Alaska Milk, 106-98, in the nightcap.

The Texters shot 44 percent from the field and 80 percent from the stripe, a big improvement from their 79-82 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters where they struggled with a 30-percent field shooting and 47-percent free throws. 

TNT thus forced a five-way tie at 1-1 with Blackwater, Magnolia, Meralco and Rain or Shine behind NLEX and San Miguel Beer’s 2-0 cards and Ginebra San Miguel’s 1-0 slate while dealing Alaska its second straight defeat.

Earlier, Belo top scored with 25 points laced by five triples, DiGregorio made 23 markers including three treys, Maliksi put in a double-double effort with 10 points and the same number of rebounds while Jose chipped in 12 markers and eight boards as Blackwater also nailed a first-ever victory in the Pasay venue.

Poy Erram, Roi Sumang, Nards Pinto and Dave Marcelo also stepped up as the Elite rebounded from a losing season debut against the Meralco Bolts.

They also foiled Rain or Shine’s bid for a share of the lead with NLEX (2-0) and San Miguel Beer (2-0).

Belo, an amateur standout spending most of his PBA rookie season nursing an injury, also came up with seven rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal.

The former FEU King Tamaraw, a member of the Gilas training pool, scored six of their last eight points to cap his splendid performance.

“I focused on my strengthening and conditioning during the offseason. And my confidence is back,” said Belo.

The scores: 

First Game

Blackwater 92 – Belo 25, Digregorio 23, Jose 12, Maliksi 10, Erram 8, Pinto 7, Sumang 5, Sena 2, Marcelo 0. 

Rain or Shine 87 – Tiu 14, Norwood 13, Daquioag 13, Almazan 10, Maiquez 8, Belga 7, Borboran 6, Yap 5, Trollano 4, King 3, Ponferada 2, Nambatac 2. 

Quarterscores: 25-28, 47-44, 65-64, 92-87

Second Game

TNT 106 – Rosario 21, Castro 18, Tautuaa 18, Garcia 11, Williams 9, Pogoy 7, Onwubere 6, Reyes 6, Torres 6, Tallo 2, Arong 2, Carey 0. 

Alaska 98 – Teng 28, Casio 17, Abueva 16, Magat 9, Thoss 6, Pascual 5, Galliguez 5, Banchero 4, Cruz 4, Manuel 2, Racal 2, Exciminiano 0. 

Quarterscores: 29-30, 58-49, 81-72, 106-98