Elasto Painters trounce tired Purefoods squad

Rain or Shine blew hot and cold and then hot again in the final stretch as it repulsed a weary Purefoods, 96-87, Sunday to seize the opener of their best-of-three quarterfinal showdown in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference at the Big Dome.

Jai Lewis rammed through 26 points and 17 boards while Rob Wainright had 16 points including four booming triples as the Elasto Painters registered their first playoff win since gaining entry three seasons ago.

“I think our shots went in a lot today, everybody stepped up,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia. “We just need one more big game from our players.”

Marquin Chandler switched places with Kerby Raymundo and James Yap as he made up for a disappointing effort in a 126-123 double overtime win over Talk N’ Text in Friday’s wildcard phase with 34-point performance.

Raymundo and Yap, who had 33 and 21 points, respectively, in their last game, in contrast, disappeared and missed the 13 shots they took to finish with just 13 points combined—all coming from the free throw line.

Buried deep down a 22-point deficit, the Giants were not about to give up and roared back with a 9-0 blitz that trimmed it down to 72-85 with 5.45 minutes to go.

They shaved it off even further to six points, 82-88, on a 10-3 run with 2.50 remaining.
But the end came for Purefoods when Lewis hit an inside stab and third string forward Mark Isip drained a jumper and a lay-up in a 6-3 exchange.

And they did it with flashy guard Fil-Am Sool Mercado, who was out due to a pulled hamstring he sustained in a 96-88 triumph over Barako Bull in the wildcard phase last Wednesday.

With the starters resting on the bench, Allan Salangsang took over and presided over a mini run that saw the Whoppers erecting an 85-63 lead, their biggest lead of the game.

Rain or Shine tore the game apart in the third quarter as it detonated a 18-9 bomb to turn a 39-27 advantage to a 57-36 lead, its biggest in the period.

Then Chandler, who struggled in a 126-123 double overtime win over Talk N’ Text to make it this far, went man-possessed and blasted away with 17-point explosion he laced with three straight triples.

But the Elasto Painters came roaring from behind the arc where they machine-gunned their way to seven booming triples including three from Rob Wainright that offset Chandler’s heroics.

Lewis came out aggressive right on opening bell with an eight-point frenzy to will the Elasto Painters to a 20-14 upper hand after the first quarter.

Rain or Shine sustained its torrid pace in the second period courtesy again of the hardworking Lewis, who erupted for 16 points in the first half to send his team comfortably ahead, 39-27, at the break.
The Elasto Painters actually led by as much as 16 points twice, the last at 39-23, but a six-point counter attack by the Giants in the final 2.07 minutes to cut it down to a more manageable deficit.

Credit Rain or Shine’s early success to rebounding as it plucked 37 including nine on the offensive end. Purefoods managed only 27 and two offensive boards.

The scores:

Rain or Shine 96- Lewis 26, Wainwright 16, Norwood 10, Reyes 9, Isip 8, Ibanes 8, Laure 7, Tang 6, Salangsang 6, Arana 0, Dulay 0

Purefoods 87- Chandler 34, Simon 9, Raymundo 7, R. Yap 7, Canaleta 6, J, Yap 6, Cruz 6, Alvarez 4, Robinson 4, Allado 4, Villanueva 0, Adducul 0

QS: 20-14; 39-27; 73-56; 96-87


Source: http://www.pba.ph/content/view/2661/1/