ROS ends 2-game skid at expense of Barako Bull
Bruno Sundov (Dark / Rain or Shine) vs Evan Brock (Light / Barako Bull). Nuki Sabio/PBA
MANILA, Philippines—Rain or Shine got its deadly perimeter game going as it turned back reeling Barako Bull, 103-93, Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
With its outside shots falling, the inside opened up for import Bruno Sundov, who produced 27 points with most of his baskets came in the shaded area.
“We shot the ball a lot better today than in our previous games. We were really looking to get Jeff, Paul and some of our bigs their usual percentages from the perimeter so that made all the things easier for Bruno inside,” said ROS head coach Yeng Guiao, whose squad snapped a two-game slide.
Paul Lee fired 20 points, making all but one of his attempts from long distance, to go along with four rebounds and six assists.
The Energy Cola, who absorbed their fifth straight setback, kept it close in the third quarter up to the opening minutes of the final period.
Barako Bull pulled to within three, 69-72, on a trey by Mark Macapagal at the 10:17 mark of the fourth quarter but that was the closest the Energy Cola came with the E-Painters refusing to let their guards down.
Chris Tiu answered Macapagal’s trey with his own before Larry Rodriguez’ made two free throws stopped Barako Bull’s run.
“Barako Bull gave us some scares even without their import during certain moments in the game. They kept themselves in the game most of the time.”
Another three, this time by Beau Belga followed by a three-point play by the seven-foot-two Sundov made it, 85-74, with 6:37 left.
Lee’s step back jumper with under two minutes left put away the Energy Cola, 98-85.
Evan Brock had a Barako Bull-high with 23 points and 14 rebounds but already had four fouls at the half. Danny Seigle scored 20 points on 13-of-16 shooting at the line.
Jeff Chan shot 10 points in just his second game back from a left thumb injury.
