Rain or Shine Elasto Painters finally chalked up their first win in the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) Governor’s Cup after they dominated GlobalPort Batang Pier 119-112 at Al Shabab Sports Cub in Al Mamzar, Dubai.
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American import Wendell McKines led the offensive attack of Rain or Shine with 28 points but it was the timely three-pointers from their big men that kept their lead. JR Quiñahan, who was adjudged best player of the game, made four of his eight triple attempts to finish with 24 points while burly centre Beau Belga contributed 12 markers, including three triples. Gabe Norwood hit two treys to finish with 12 points.
GlobalPort top-scorer Terrence Romeo delighted the crowd with his acrobatic shots to post career-high 40 points while American-Lebanese import Jarrid Famous and Palestinian import Omar Krayem added 26 and 24 markers respectively but no other Batang Pier player scored more than five points.
Rain or Shine started the game on a high gear with a 13-2 run before GlobalPort retaliated with a 14-2 spurt to take the lead by one, 16-15. But that was the only time GlobalPort were on the driver’s seat as Rain or Shine finished the first quarter on top by six, 38-32.
The Elasto Painters increased the pace in the second quarter and padded their lead to 17, 66-49, at the half before GlobalPort picked up their game in the third period to cut the deficit to eight, 90-82, going into the last frame.
GlobalPort rallied again in the middle of the fourth quarter and came to as close as five, 105-100, but Quiñahan, Belga and Norwood hit a triple each and McKines punctuated them with a powerful slam to give Rain or Shine a commanding 11-point lead, 117-106, with one minute and 22 seconds left en route to a convincing win.
The victory was the first in the Conference for Rain or Shine who are perennial final contenders in the oldest professional basketball league in Asia.
“Coming into this game we haven’t won a match yet. We’re 0-2 back in Manila. Global Port are 3-1 and they’ve been playing well,” Guiao said. “We got lucky one of their top players (Stanley Pringle) wasn’t able to play but we don’t have two key players either.”
Guiao’s team will face next Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in their scheduled back-to-back games in Dubai. “It’s easier psychologically to enter the next game with a win. We used our full rotation to preserve the guys and expect the same intensity and speed up and down the court (in the next game),” he said.
Rain or Shine shot better on the floor hitting 55 per cent compared to GlobalPort’s 38 per cent mark. They also distributed the ball well, dishing out 26 assists while GlobalPort only registered 11.
GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio said: “We have a 3-2 (win-loss record) and right now we’re in fifth place but we still have a good chance to enter the playoffs.
Scorers
Rain or Shine 119 – Wendell McKines 28; JR Quiñahan 24; Beau Belga 12; Gabe Norwood 12; Jericho Cruz 9; Paul Lee 9; Ryan Araña 8; TY Tang 6; Jery Cruz 6; Jonathan Uyloan 3; Jireh Ibañes 1; Raymond Almazan 1
GlobalPort 112 – Terrence Romeo 40; Jarrid Famous 26; Omar Krayem 24; Doug Kramer 5; Ronjay Buenafe 5; Mark Isip 4; Keith Jensen 4; Dennis Miranda 4