By REYNALD MAGALLON
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Rain or Shine just couldn’t get anything going on the offensive end, absorbing a 54-point beating, 115-61 at the hands of US NCAA Division I team UC Irvine in its final Jones Cup game at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium on Sunday, Aug. 20.
Signs point to another woeful night for the Elasto Painters especially after opening the game on a measly 1-of-20 clip from the field while also missing all of 10 tries from three-point territory.
The Americans, who were already assured of the top spot and the title even before the match, took advantage of the dry spell, establishing a 26-6 advantage at the end of the first 10 minutes of the games that set the tone for the romp.
Making matters worse for the Elasto Painters was the ejection of import Nick Evans with still 4:56 left in the first quarter due to an unsportsmanlike foul after shoving an American player, and a technical foul for verbal altercation with UC Irvine head coach.
The offense slowly picked up in the ensuing quarters but was already too late with the UC’s lead already far from ROS’ reach.
Derin Saran led the way with 23 points while forwards Emilis Butkus added 18 and Devin Tellis with 16 as UC completed an eight-game sweep of the tournament.
Andrei Caracut was the lone double digit scorer for the Filipinos with 14 as Rain or Shine finished the tournament with a 2-6 record.
