6 Elasto Painters in double figures

ANTIPOLO -- Before the season, Rain or Shine had never beaten Red Bull in eight games.

On Friday at the Ynares Center here, the Elasto Painters made it two in a row over the Barakos in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup, scoring an emphatic 100-92 victory despite the absence of first-stringers JayR Reyes and Rob Wainwright.

The Rain or Shine relievers rose to the occasion, giving the team tremendous boost in chalking up a seventh win in 13 outings in the all-Filipino tourney.

Allan Salangsang had a splendid display of his outside shooting prowess in the third quarter, starring in a lethal run that carried the Elasto Painters to a repeat win over the Barakos who they defeated, 96-90, in their initial tiff.

Rain or Shine closed the third quarter at 83-69 on a 19-4 attack and never looked back in notching the win that drew the team within two games of the pacesetting Alaska team (9-4) and a game behind second running San Miguel (8-5).

As had been the case in their last games, the Barakos couldn't finish a good job in the early goings of the game.

With a sixth straight loss, Red Bull slid deeper in the cellar with a 3-9 card.

Salangsang pumped in 12 of his 17 points in the third quarter leading the Rain or Shine charge from an early 15-point deficit.

The former Letran Knight built his game around 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc -- a big help in opening up Red Bull's interior defense.

"Boss Raymund (Yu) approached me at halftime. Sabi niya kailangan kong umiskor para bumuka ang depensa ng kalaban. Binigyan ako ni boss ng kumpiyansa," said Salangsang in the TV interview, being named the Best Player of the Game.

Eddie Laure, Gabe Norwood, Mark Isip, TY Tang and Jireh Ibanes also put in significant numbers helping pick up the slack in the absence of the injury-stricken Reyes and Wainwright.

Jherome Ejercito, back in the league after a two-year absence, was also fielded in against his former team, producing four points in the second period.

Carlo Sharma led the losing team with 18 points with Jeff Chan and Gabby Espinas adding 16 apiece and Cyrus Baguio 13.

Baguio and Norwood had electrying jams to highlight the contest.

The Elasto Painters were tentative at the start, trailing by 14 at 15-29 in the opening quarter. (NC)

The Scores:

Rain or Shine 100 - Laure 18, Salangsang 17, Norwood 13, Isip 12, Tang 10, Ibanes 10, Andaya 6, Arana 4, Ejercito 4, Mercado 3, Dulay 3.

Red Bull 92 - Sharma 18, Chan 16, Espinas 16, Baguio 13, Hubalde 8, Najorda 6, Rodriguez 5, Duncil 5, Ybanez 3, Membrere 2, Cruz 0, Hrabak 0.

Quarterscores: 15-29, 45-47, 83-69, 100-92



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