Games Tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:15 p.m. – Alaska vs Blackwater
7 p.m. – NLEX vs Purefoods
What nearly cost Rain or Shine the game last night ultimately was what saved them in the end.
The Elasto Painters missed 12 of 31 free throws overall but made the ones that mattered – a pair from Paul Lee with 4.8 seconds remaining and ROS went on to beat Globalport, 86-83, and grab a share of fourth place in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With its second straight win and fourth in six games, ROS tied Talk ’N Text behind unbeaten leader Alaska (5-0) and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and San Miguel Beer (4-1).
Globalport (3-3) led by seven going to the fourth quarter but went 5 of 15 from the field, including 0 for 5 from 3-point range, and committed 6 of its 22 turnovers, snapping a short-lived two-game winning run.
“Pinahirapan namin ang sarili namin by missing those important free throws,” said E-Painters coach Yeng Guiao. “Jeff (Chan) uncharacteristically missed four and Beau (Belga) also missed a few. I’m a little concerned about our free throws and rebounding. Hopefully we can fix these problems in practice.”
ROS was outrebounded, 50-43.
Chan led ROS with 16 points, 11 coming in the fourth quarter, while Belga added 12. But the two shot 6 of 14 free throws between them, with the wide-bodied Belga clanging four in a row with three minutes left that would have put the Batang Pier away.
Instead Globalport went on a 5-1 run to cut a four-point deficit to 84-83 on a Yancy de Ocampo free throw with 64 seconds to go and then moved into position to win its third straight after Belga lost the ball under the basket.
Twice the Batang Pier put their fate in the hands of playmaker Alex Cabagnot, who was 6 of 16 from the field overall, but Cabagnot couldn’t come through both times. Keith Jensen gave up a foul on Lee with time running out and the former University of the East star, 3 of 15 from the floor but steady from the line, hit both charities.
Globalport coach Pido Jarencio gave Cabagnot a final chance to redeem himself but his leaning 3-pointer past Gabe Norwood rimmed out at the buzzer.
“I thought Globalport really pushed us,” said Guiao. “This team is rising up in the league and they’re really giving the veteran teams a hard time. We’re still lacking energy since the start of the conference but a win is a win.”
ROS opened a 49-36 advantage at the half as Globalport turned the ball over 10 of 14 times in the second quarter and shot 11 of 32 from the floor.
But following an animated session in the locker room, the Batang Pier returned with renewed passion as Cabagnot scored 9 points and Jensen 7 and the two combined to wipe out the deficit, with Globalport storming ahead, 70-63. ROS missed 12 of 18 during the period and was 1 of 8 beyond the arc, getting outclassed, 12-2, in the last three minutes.
Scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 86 – Chan 16, Belga 12, Lee 11, Almazan 11, Cruz Jervy 10, Quinahan 10, Ibanes 8, Cruz Jericho 4, Norwood 3, Teng 1, Tang 0.
GLOBALPORT 83 – Cabagnot 20, Jensen 15, Pringle 14, De Ocampo 14, Semerad 8, Isip 6, Romeo 3, Buenafe 3, Baclao 0, Ponferada 0, Nabong 0, Taha 0, Caperal 0, Pinto 0.
Quarterscores: 23-20, 49-36, 63-70, 86-83