by Tito S. Talao
BINAN, Laguna – When all the good he did in the third quarter wasn’t enough, Rain or Shine point guard Paul Lee conjured up something even better in the fourth.
Lee had 24 points, including 12 at the start of the second half, as the Elasto Painters turned back Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 117-108, last night to pick up their third straight win and fourth overall in seven games in the PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup at the Alonte Sports Arena.
With a 4-3 record, Rain or Shine moved to a share of third spot with San Miguel Beer, while Ginebra stayed in second at 4-2 but in a three-way tie with Air21 and San Mig Super Coffee.
The former University of the East star drained back-to-back 3s late in the third period for 83-73 to climax a Rain or Shine surge highlighted by a pivotal 11-0 run at the start.
He seemed headed for an earlier-than-usual rest when LA Tenorio knocked down a trey to make it an eight-point contest in the last quarter. Springing back to life, Lee hit a right side banked shot in front of the Ginebra bench and then followed it up with a 3-pointer a few feet from the same spot and also off-the-glass.
The Kings got the message after that.
Barako Bull, meantime, rode the triple double performance of debuting Allen Durham in routing Globalport, 122-98, for the Energy Cola’s second win in seven games.
Durham, who played for Grace Bible College in Wyoming and was unpicked during the 2011 NBA draft, took over from Eric Wise and unloaded 32 points with 24 rebounds and 10 assists in 37 minutes.
Globalport fell to 1-6, its playoff bid dimming considerably.
Meanwhile, Commissioner’s Cup semifinalists Air21 and San Mig Coffee seek to disengage from a 4-2 third place tie as they clash at 8 tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, marking the PBA’s return to the Big City following provincial visits to Cagayan de Oro and Binan, Laguna.
The Express are coming off an 80-67 victory over the Meralco Bolts last Wednesday at the Philsports Arena, while the Mixers are looking to rebound from a 93-84 drubbing by the Alaska Aces at the Cuneta Astrodome Friday.
Air21 dragged San Mig Coffee to a do-or-die Game 5 in the previous conference semis before folding, with the Mixers moving on to beat Talk ‘N Text in the finals.
Scores:
BARAKO BULL 122 – Durham 32, Miranda 20, Intal 14, Thiele 13, Jensen 12, Miller 9, Pennisi 5, Custodio 4, Fortuna 3, Isip 2, Lastimosa 2, Salva 2, Marcelo 2, Najorda 2, Wilson 0.
GLOBALPORT 98 – Romeo 22, Lowhorn 17, Washington 15, Cabagnot 13, Menk 9, Macapagal 8, Garcia 5, Buenafe 4, Ponferada 4, Yee 1, Lingganay 0, Hayes 0, Salvador 0.
Quarters: 38-20; 59-47; 92-69; 122-98
RAIN OR SHINE 117 – Reid 31, Lee 24, Chan 18, Belga 12, Cruz 8, Norwood 6, Arana 5, Tang 3, Almazan 2, Teng 2, Uyloan 2, Rodriguez 2, Ibanes 2, Nuyles 0, Tiu 0.
GINEBRA 108 – Mason 25, Slaughter 20, Tenorio 13, Helterbrand 12, Caguioa 11, Ellis 11, Aguilar 10, Baracael 4, Reyes 2, Mamaril 0.
Quarters: 30-30, 53-55, 83-73, 117-108