From: Philstar

Updated: November 20, 2008 12:00 AM
By: Nelson Beltran

JayR Reyes dished out his best game in the season and Rain or Shine came through with its second-best defensive effort as the Elasto Painters beat the Alaska Milk Aces for the first time, 92-88, in the KFC PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The 6-foot-6 Reyes had a stirring 5-of-5 shooting effort from the three-point area and finished with double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Asian Coating franchise to its first win in 10 matches with the Uytengsu team.

Reyes led his team to 12 treys – breaching their tournament-best average of 11.1 as they stalled the Aces in their bid to be the third team to notch a 700th win in the league.

The Aces suffered their first loss in their last five games but remained in the lead with an 8-3 win-loss record.

“This is easily our biggest win in this season so far because we beat the hottest team in the tourney. It’s because of pure hard work which we hope to carry in our next game against Coca-Cola,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia after they posted their sixth win against five losses.

“JayR Reyes stepped up, Sol Mercado carried us in the fourth and Gabe Norwood hit a big three down the stretch. The team as a whole played great defense,” added Garcia who, in a conference and a half, has matched the total number of wins coach Leo Austria won for the franchise in three conferences.

Rain or Shine overcame Alaska in a battle of offensive flurries with Rob Wainwright, Reyes, Mercado and Norwood delivering the decisive run for the Elasto Painters towards the end.

The Elasto Painters all but sealed the win as Norwood banged away a triple making it 90-83 with time down to 1:01.

Willie Miller erupted for a game-high 29 points but the Aces were limited to 88 points — the Elasto Painters’ second best defensive game, next to their 88-84 win over the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants early in the tourney.

Reyes engaged Miller in a fierce shootout with the Rain or Shine center highlighting his exploits with 11 straight points in the third quarter to open up a 56-46 lead for the Elasto Painters from a 42-all deadlock at halftime. Reyes went 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in that run.

Millers, Thoss, Tony dela Cruz and Jeff Cariaso joined forces at the outset of the fourth quarter as Alaska had a counterattack to surge ahead at 73-72.

The Elasto Painters, however, showed poise and confidence under pressure, beating the Aces at the finish.