TY TANG of Rain or Shine (right) swipes the ball away from Sol Mercado of Globalport in their PBA game yesterday at Ynares Arena in Antipolo. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
ANTIPOLO—Arizona Reid scored 27 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead Rain or Shine to a 94-74 drubbing of Globalport last night and stay undefeated in the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations at the Ynares Center here.
Ryan Arana scattered 21 points and Paul Lee chipped in 15 as the Elasto Painters broke away in the second period to send Batang Pier crashing back down to reality for a 1-1 card.
So in tune were the Painters that Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood, members of the history-setting Gilas Pilipinas squad, were made to play just a total of 23 minutes combined without slowing Rain or Shine down.
“Getting a 2-0 start in a short conference is important, because you can assure yourself a stint in the next round early,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said. “We’re trying to get Gabe and Jeff back to their regular rhythm, and I am sure that we will improve when they do.”
Air21 bounced back from a loss to Globalport Wednesday by turning back San Mig Coffee, 93-82, in the second game.
Globalport, which opened up with a win over Air21 on Wednesday, got 23 points and 14 rebounds from import Markeith Cummings. But after Sol Mercado’s 13 points, no one was able to contribute heavily.
Jay Washington was good for just five points in 35 minutes, a far cry from the 15 and nine rebounds he had in the authoritative win against the Express.
Meanwhile, Meralco tries to pin a second straight loss on Barako Bull and climb into a tie for the early lead with the Painters when the Bolts, who will still be without Mac Cardona, battled the Energy in the 4:15 p.m. game today at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Bolts will be coming off an 89-83 victory over Petron Blaze, which can be considered as the first upset of the tournament, on Friday night even with Cardona sitting on the bench because of a leg injury.
The Boosters, on the other hand, will try to bounce back from that setback against debuting Barangay Ginebra and new coach Ato Agustin in the 6:30 p.m. main game.
Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio, the Gin Kings’ contribution to the National five, are expected to see action after rejoining the squad for practice on Friday.
Dior Lowhorn debuts as Ginebra’s import, though Mark Caguioa, the reigning MVP, will continue to be the heart and soul of the Kings, the losing finalists to Alaska in the last Commissioner’s Cup.
Elijah Millsap will be the spearhead of the Boosters, who blew a 12-point lead in the first half before tumbling against the Bolts.
Petron is breaking in a new coach in Gee Abanilla and a new consultant in Todd Purvis. But the Boosters were outsmarted in the final three quarters by Meralco’s Ryan Gregorio, who played with a small lineup and chopped down the hulking Boosters.
The scores:
FIRST GAME
RAIN OR SHINE 94 – Reid 27, Arana 21, Lee 15, Belga 6, Quinahan 6, Matias 5, Rodriguez 5, Chan 4, Ibanes 3, Cruz 2, Tiu 0, Norwood 0, Tang 0.
GLOBALPORT 74 – Cummings 23, Mercado 13, Miller 8, Yee 7, Belencion 6, Washington 5, Hayes 4, Nabong 4, David 3, Buensuceso 1, Lingganay 0, Alonzo 0, Salvador 0.
Quarters: 21-23, 41-33, 71-58, 94-74
SECOND GAME
AIR 21 93—Graham 38, Cortez 13, Canaleta 12, Manuel 8, Menor 8, Isip 5, Sharma 4, Sena 3, Custodio 2, Omolon 0, Ritualo 0, Arboleda 0.
San Mig 82 —Blakely 37, Mallari 10, Simon 9, Devance 6, Maliksi 5, Acuna 5, Reavis 4, Ponferrada 2, Barroca 2, Yap 2, Alvarez 0, De Ocampo 0.
Quarters: 21-25, 49-46, 75-68, 93-82