GAMES TOMORROW
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5 p.m. – TNT vs. Blackwater
7:30 p.m. – Magnolia vs. NLEX
RAIN or Shine wingman Jhonard Clarito hoisted a three-point shot that hit the mark while drawing a foul from Terrafirma big man Keith Zaldivar late last night.
Dodging the upset axe, the Elasto Painters tripped the Dyip 94-85 for their sixth win and boosted their bid for a top-four finish at the end of the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Clarito’s triple that pegged a 94-83 count with only 42.1 seconds left earned raves from the good-sized Rain or Shine faithful at ringside and prompted the usually strict and stern Painters coach Yeng Guiao to flash a big smile.
“Mahirap kasi if you give them a small window. They’re going to gain confidence, it’s really different playing without pressure for them. They’re just trying to give a good show,” Guiao said. “Iyon ang sinasabi ko sa players na mag-ingat tayo kasi puwede talagang mangyari iyan.
“Nangyari nga. But it’s a good thing we were able to hold them off. It’s a good thing we were able to keep our guys fresh kasi isang pinaghahandaan din namin iyong game namin sa Sabado (against San Miguel Beer in Cagayan de Oro City),” he added.
Clarito pumped in 12 points and five rebounds for Rain or Shine while Andrei Caracut chimed in 11 markers and two boards.
The trio of Leonard Santillan, rookie Francis Escandor, and Anton Asistio all had 10 points each as the Painters cruised to back-to-back triumphs, counting a 109-99 win at the expense of the Phoenix Fuel Masters last week and stoked their card to 6-3.
Long out of the playoffs race, there was no end in sight on Terrafirma’s woes that saw the Dyip drop their ninth outing in a row, including a 103-117 setback to Converge last week for a 1-9 slate.
The best four squads after the 11-game elims will be rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the import-less conference.
Guiao’s charges zoomed to a 45-34 lead at the turn that they increased to as much as 73-55 on a Kris Porter putback heading into the fourth canto.
For a while in the final stanza, Terrafirma looked like a team out to spoil Rain or Shine, pulling to within 80-83 on a Brent Paraiso jumper, only 3:33 remaining.
But Caracut and Clarito hit timely baskets to roll back the Dyip.
Louie Sangalang paced Terrafirma with 22 points, four caroms, and three assists while Stanley Pringle and Mark Nonoy got 18 and 10, respectively.
On Clarito’s foul-baiting trey, Guiao said: “It was a smart move and lucky to do that.”
The Painters need more than being smart and lucky against the Beermen.
