Games on Wednesday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. — NLEX vs TNT
7:30 p.m. --- Terrafirma vs Ginebra
Rain or Shine capitalized on the absence of injured NorthPort main gunner Arvin Tolentino to get into the win column in a wire-to-wire, 113-96, decision in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Without the last tournament’s Best Player of the Conference, the Elasto Painters dominated the Batang Pier right from the tipoff for a strong bounce back from an opening-day loss.
Gian Mamuyac scored 13 of his 22 points in a telling first quarter eruption to pace Rain or Shine, which remained handicapped at the center with Keith Datu (right calf) and Beau Belga (vertigo) out.
Tolentino, who was in street clothes nursing a tight right hip flexor, watched helplessly on the bench as Rain or Shine denied NorthPort a follow-up to its debut victory last Saturday.
“It’s huge for us that Arvin was out. We prepared for Arvin to play today and it’s just a lucky break that he’s unavailable to play. We feel that if he played, the complexion of the game would be different,” Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao said.
“We got lucky he wasn’t able to play,” Guiao added as he also lauded his team’s offensive rebounding that translated to 27 second chance points.
Santi Santillan had a double-double of 17 markers and 10 rebounds while Caelan Tiongson added 15 points, eight boards, four assists and two steals in an all-around outing for the Elasto Painters, who pulled down 27 offensive boards and outrebounded NorthPort, 66-54.
Andrei Caracut and Adrian Nocum fired 15 and 10 points, respectively, for Rain or Shine, which pounded 62 inside points.
The Elasto Painters poured it on early, racing to a 24-6 lead that essentially set the tone for the lopsided affair.
The Batang Pier made it interesting in the second quarter and in the early goings of the second half, drawing close, 52-56, after Will Navarro scored off a jumper.
But Rain or Shine retaliated with seven straight points capped by an Anton Asistio triple to restore order and cruise to a convincing triumph.
Navarro led NorthPort with 22 points and 12 rebounds, Joshua Munzon had 14 markers, seven assists and five boards while Jio Jalalon had 11 points in a spoiled comeback from a sciatica injury.
Evan Nelle finished with 11 points while Sydney Onwubere, who played physical with Tiongson, got 10.
Meanwhile, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial announced the postponement of the PBA All-Star originally set from 2 to 4 May in Davao del Norte due to security concerns.
“Our All-Star in Davao as of now is postponed due to security concerns and the timing but it’s more about the security. So, we came up with this decision for the sake of everyone,” Marcial said.
However, the PBA chief shared that the league is currently in talks with an alternative province to host the annual spectacle.
“We’re talking with a province in the Visayas but they can’t (commit right away) since there’s little time to prepare,” Marcial said.
“If we get the green light from the province we’ll push through with the All-Star after the elections.”
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE (113) — Mamuyac 22, Santillan 17, Caracut 15, Tiongson 15, Nocum 10, Norwood 9, Asistio 9, Malonzo 7, Clarito 5, Borboran 4, Escandor 0, Lemetti 0.
NORTHPORT (96) — Navarro 22, Munzon 14, Jalalon 11, Nelle 11, Onwubere 10, Flores 8, Bulanadi 6, Yu 5, Taha 5, Miranda 4, Tratter 0, Cuntapay 0.
QUARTERS: 31-17, 56-48, 86-75, 113-96.