RAIN or Shine had an answer to every Phoenix try to stage a comeback last Wednesday night.
“Inilaro namin iyong pace na comfortable kami. We’re able to sustain that kind of pace,” Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao said. “Overall, mabilis iyong laro, nandoon iyong ball movement namin, we’re able to attack the basket and get to the foul line.
“We survived a bad night in terms of turnovers with 19. That allowed them to get fast break points, pero maganda naman ang three-point shooting namin,” he added.
Guiao spoke after his team brought down the Fuel Masters 109-99 for their fifth win in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The victory made up for Rain or Shine’s 103-111 loss to TNT last week and jacked up the Painters’ record to 5-3 to prop up their inclusion in the eight-team Last Eight after the 11-game eliminations.
The Fuel Masters failed to rebound from a 112-119 defeat to the Ginebra Kings last May 16 and slipped to 2-6.
Rising star Adrian Nocum tallied a career-high 30 points for Rain or Shine while Jhonard Clarito chipped in a double-double of 20 markers and 10 rebounds.
Caelan Tiongson also had 14 points and eight boards while Leonard Santillan added 12 markers, five caroms, and two dimes for the Painters.
Guiao hopes his wards still have enough gas left in their tank moving forward possibly to the quarterfinals.
“We’re aggressive and we’re able to defend their key players Jason Perkins and Kai Ballungay, and that’s where we’re able to take control of the game,” he said. “Ilang beses silang nakadikit, pero nagawan naman naming ng paraan.
“We’re 5-3 right now, hinahanap lang namin iyong paniguradong makakapasok kami sa quarterfinals.”
