Guiao denies using profane language, calls game referee ‘bare-faced liar’
Rain or Shine erased a double-digit deficit behind its outside shooting in the third quarter and carved out a 92-82 victory over Meralco last night to edge closer towards a finals berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters shot 19 triples, including eight in the third that saw them outscoring the Bolts, 32-14, to turn a 49-44 halftime deficit into a 76-61 lead entering the final period.
Paul Lee once again starred for ROS with 23 points on 7-of-9 shooting. He made 5 of 7 threes in nearly 25 minutes of action to power the Painters to a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
ROS can advance to its fifth finals appearance with a win tomorrow.
“We hope to close it out on Tuesday. With one foot in the door, we hope to put all our energy in Game 3,” said Rain or Shine Coach Yeng Guiao.
The final score didn’t reflect the early goings of Game 2 as ROS fell behind 27-13 late in the first quarter.
But ROS took over in the third, making 10 of 19 shots while holding Meralco to just 5 of 18 from the field.
Jonathan Uyloan scored nine in that period, Lee had eight, Gabe Norwood and Jericho Cruz each scored five while Chris Tiu converted a triple.
Rain or Shine’s three-point output was tied for fifth all-time while ranked second in franchise history behind the 22 set in 2012 – incidentally against Meralco.
Import Wayne Chism, who was held to just 11 points but grabbed 18 rebounds, even hit one from rainbow territory with 45.2 seconds left in the game.
“It’s always a hard game, that’s our expectation even before the game started. Meralco will come out with better energy, it just so happened we’re making our outside shots,” said Guiao.
Guiao, however, lashed out at referee Rey Yante and called him a ‘bare-faced liar’ after receiving a technical foul in the second quarter for using a profane language.
Although known for hurling invectives against the referees, Guiao denied Yante’s claim.
Import Josh Davis finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds for Meralco.
Scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 92 – Lee 23, Cruz Jericho 15, Chism 11, Tiu 10, Uyloan 9, Belga 7, Quinahan 6, Norwood 5, Ibanes 3, Tang 3, Teng 0, Arana 0, Cruz Jervy 0, Almazan 0.
MERALCO 82 – Davis 25, David 17, Hugnatan 12, Wilson 7, Cortez 6, Caram 5, Hodge 2, Anthony 2, Ildefonso 2, Sena 2, Ferriols 2, Macapagal 0.
Quarters: 16-27; 44-47; 76-61; 92-82.