by Jonas Terrado
Games Monday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. – Magnolia vs Ginebra
(Ginebra leads series 1-0)
7 p.m. – San Miguel vs TNT KaTropa
(San Miguel leads series 1-0)
Rain or Shine showed no goodwill gesture to NorthPort this time, leaning on its outside shooting to fashion out a 91-85 win and a place in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Elasto Painters hit five triples in the second quarter to pull away and continue hit more threes in the second half to make short work of the Batang Pier in their quarterfinal affair.
Ed Daquioag and Rey Nambatac for seven of 12 threes made to finish with 15 and 14 points for Rain or Shine, which eliminated NorthPort weeks after giving the same team pancit as gratitude for helping them secure a twice-to-beat bonus.
Javee Mocon waxed hot late for eight points while grabbing seven rebounds to help Rain or Shine scuttle multiple comeback tries by NorthPort in the fourth quarter.
“The reason why we won this game is because everybody stepped up,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia, lauding his team’s resolve despite a three-week hiatus and team’s leading scorer James Yap held to seven points.
Rain or Shine will face the winner of the best-of-three quarterfinal series between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Magnolia.
Ginebra, which took Game 1 with an 86-75 victory, goes for a sweep on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Mo Tautuaa produced 24 points and seven rebounds while Garvo Lanete added 20 points but the Batang Pier severely missed Sean Anthony in the most important game of the tournament due to an injury.
Anthony, who was the team’s second leading scorer at 20 points per game, sat out because of a groin injury suffered against Ginebra last Wednesday.
Nambatac hit two threes in the second as Rain or Shine took control for good after trailing 17-14 in the first quarter.
Rain or Shine pounced on NorthPort in the second half, building its biggest lead at 89-74 in the fourth.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 91 – Daquioag 15, Nambatac 14, Belga 13, Ponferada 8, Norwood 8, Mocon 8, Yap 7, Ahanmisi 5, Torres 5, Borboran 4, Rosales 4, Maiquez 0, Onwubere 0, Alejandro 0.
NorthPort 85 – Tautuaa 24, Lanete 20, Grey 11, Pringle 9, Taha 7, Bolick 5, Guinto 4, Flores 0, Gabayni 0, Sollano 0.
Quarters: 14-17, 43-33, 73-62, 91-85.
