Late rally powers Rain or Shine past Blackwater

Late rally powers Rain or Shine past Blackwater | Daily Tribune

Games tomorrow:

(Philsports Arena)

5 p.m. — Terrafirma vs TNT

7:30 p.m. — Meralco vs NorthPort

Adrian Nocum fueled Rain or Shine’s breakaway in the closing half of the fourth period for a 120-106 victory over pesky Blackwater in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The lightning-quick guard poured six of the Elasto Painters’ telling 14-2 run that shattered a 102-102 deadlock to take control of the game and eventually bounce back from a previous setback for a 3-2 win-loss record tied with idle San Miguel Beer.

Rain or Shine welcomed the return of birthday boy Caelan Tiongson after missing two games because of back spasms and big man Beau Belga due to vertigo.

Center Keith Datu finished with a career-high 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Elasto Painters, who survived the Bossing’s torrid shooting until halfway into the final period before clamping down on defense and Nocum sparking the separation.

Nocum had 23 markers, 12 coming in the fourth quarter, Tiongson had 14 points, Gian Mamuyac and Andrei Caracut added 11 each while Jhonard Clarito and Santi Santillan chipped in 10 apiece.

“We were playing at our pace. Felt that if we’re able to weather the storm, they were shooting too good. They were making their threes, they were even making their fours. On isolations, they were making their shots. I just told them we were playing the pace that we wanted, maybe in the fourth quarter we’ll be able to get a break,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said.

“True enough we played better defense in the second half especially in the fourth quarter. So, we just weathered their torrid shooting percentage. It’s just patience, keeping the pace quick, working hard off the boards so we can get out in transition.”

Tiongson’s split from the foul line with 6:19 left broke the eighth and last deadlock of the game before Nocum nailed a jumper to cap the run for a 116-104 Rain or Shine lead with 2:09 left.

Blackwater outhustled Rain or Shine in the second period after trailing by four to end the opening period.

Christian David took over in the second period after RK Ilagan kept the Bossing in the game in the opening canto, pouring 12 points in the period to give his squad a 68-60 advantage at the intermission.