By REYNALD MAGALLON
Beau Belga sustained his fine play and unloaded a career-high of 28 points to steer Rain or Shine to a 115-105 romp of the skidding NorthPort in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, April 17.
Belga set the tone for the Elasto Painters, dropping 10 of his total output in the searing first quarter when they came out guns blazing to build an early 22-3 lead – an advantage ROS never relinquished until the final buzzer despite repeated rallies from the Batang Pier.
Admittedly relishing the best stretch of games in his 15-year career, Belga actually came a rebound shy of also notching a career-best in rebounding with 13 rebounds apart from seven assists.
Like Belga, Rain or Shine is currently on a hot streak winning all of its last five games after starting the conference with four straight defeats.
The Elasto Painters are now at the playoff doorstep as they are one win away from reaching their sixth win which would assure them a spot in the quarterfinals.
Jhonard Clarito provided support to Belga with 17 points and seven rebounds while Adrian Nocum broke out of his shooting slump with 16 points for the Elasto Painters who are now sitting at the solo sixth of the standings.
ROS led by as many as 22 points but NorthPort simply didn’t just roll over and die and repeatedly made a rally in the middle quarters. The Batang Pier came closest late in the third frame when they cut the lead down to just five, 71-66.
The Elasto Painters behind Nocum, Belga and Clarito easily regained footing and established a 10-points barrier which stood firm until the end.
Rookie Zav Lucero stepped up in the absence of third-year big man JM Calma,who is expected to be sidelined by 10 to 12 months with an ACL injury, putting up a career-high of 29 points that also came with seven rebounds.
Allyn Bulanadi also fired 26 points – a huge boost for the Batang Pier that had main man Arvin Tolentino misfiring for the second straight contest. Tolentino only had 11 points across his name as the league’s best scoring team in Rain or Shine bare its defensive fangs and only gave him eight attempts.
NorthPort continues to free fall after a 4-1 start, slipping down to seventh spot after absorbing its third straight defeat for an even 4-4 record.
