The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters checked a two-game skid and returned to the win column in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
“Unburden ourselves of the losing streak.”
This was Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao’s brief reminder to his wards moments before getting out of the locker room at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Thursday, Jan. 16.
The Elasto Painters did just that and played the way out of their two-game slide, drubbing top team NorthPort Batang Pier, 127-107 in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
“Before we came out of the locker room, sinabi ko lang unburden ourselves of the losing streak. Isipin lang natin mag-compete lang tayo. We can win at our best,” said Guiao, whose team improved to a 6-3 win-loss record.
Among those who responded big time Adrian Nocum. who wound up with 16 points,10 rebounds, and seven assists.
Import Deon Thompson provided his usual numbers wit 27 poiunts, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, while Leonard Santillan scored 16 markers.
“Yung mga last games pag nawalan kami focus dun bumabagsak laro namin. Ang objective lang namin today is just keep our focus, just compete,” added Guiao.
The Elasto Painters also raced off to a 33-18 start, sputtered momentarily early in the fourth period, before cruising to the convincing win against the surging Batang Pier.
Guiao was pleased.
“Yung nangyari last two games we really had good starts pero nagco-collapse kami nung 2nd quarter,” he said. “[Now] We’re able to hold on and maintain control of the whole game.”
Meanwhile, the Batang Pier found themselves slightly sailing off after suffering back-to-back defeats.
NorthPort, though, remains among the top teams with a 7-3 win-loss record.
Kadeem Jack paced the Batang Pier with 39 points, 11 rebounds, an assist, three steals, and two blocks, but simply could not help the team get over the hump.
Arvin Tolentino came up with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks, while Joshua Munzon put up 17 points.
There simply wasn’t much help outside of the trio for NorthPort.
The Scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 127 – Thompson 25, Nocum 16, Santillan 16, Caracut 13, Asistio 12, Datu 11, Norwood 7, Belga 10, Clarito 8, Tiongson 5, Malonzo 2, Lemetti 0, Ildefonso 0.
NORTHPORT 107 – Jack 39, Munzon 17, Tolentino 19, Flores 8, Cuntapay 5, Nelle 5, Miranda 4, Yu 3, Bulanadi 2, Onwubere 3, Navarro 2.
Quarterscores: 33-18, 62-44, 96-75, 127-107