BY: REYNALD MAGALLON
Shorthanded and all but Rain or Shine still proved to be too much for Terrafirma.
The Elasto Painters, down to only 10 men in the contest, still outran and outgunned Terrafirma, 121-95, to stay unbeaten in the PBA on Tour on Sunday, June 11 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
All players who saw action for Rain or Shine contributed and scored with Rey Nambatac leading the balanced attack en route to their fourth victory in as many games.
Nambatac fired away 21 points as he ignited the initial assault in the first half before putting on the finishing touches in the final frame.
Gian Mamuyac added 16 points while Mac Belo showed flashes of his deadly form by chipping in 13 points as the Elasto Painters missed the services of Jhonard Clarito, Beau Belga and Mark Borboran.
Shaun Ildefonso and Andrei Caracut also stepped with 14 points each while Anton Asistio added 11 points.
Rain or Shine ripped the game wide open late in the second frame where it banked on its defense and speed to anchor a blistering 13-2 run that turned a 52-45 lead into a 65-47 cushion at the break.
Magnolia, likewise, kept its perfect record after repelling a familiar Ginebra comeback, 91-80, in the PBA on Tour edition of their storied Manila Clasico rivalry.
With the Kings battling back from a 12-point deficit early in the final frame, Barroca delivered timely hits in the waning minutes to save the Hotshots some blushes and pick up their fourth win in as many games.
With the game tied 74-all midway through the fourth quarter, Barroca scored five straight points to shove Magnolia back to the driver seat before Jerrick Ahanmisi followed suit with a booming triple to cap a crucial 8-2 spurt.
Ginebra found some answers with big hits from Kim Aurin and Jeremiah Grey but Barroca slithered through the Kings defense and scored back-to-back baskets before Paul Lee put the nail on the coffin with a back-breaking triple that stretched Magnolia’s lead back to nine, 89-80 with two minutes to go.
Barroca showed the way for Magnolia with 20 points while Ahanmisi added 17 points. Jio Jalalon contributed 12 points as the Hotshots also welcomed the return of Ian Sangalang who played 16 minutes off the bench after being sidelined by hyperthyroidism last conference.
