PBA: Rain or Shine puts Ginebra loss behind, holds off TNT

Arizona Reid of Rain or Shine (light) vs Courtney Fells of Talk N Text (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine fought off a furious fightback by a desperate Talk ‘N Text side to win, 104-102, in the 38th PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday night at the Cuneta Astrodome.

The Elasto Painters, who blew a 19-point lead, banked on timely inside baskets from their hurting import Arizona Reid down the stretch to nab a crucial fifth win and assure themselves of at least a playoff for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.

“It was a hard win for us. We expected a hard game today. We know it was an important game for the both of us. Basically it means assuring ourselves a playoff for the top four and for Talk ‘N Text it’s surviving the cut,” said ROS head coach Yeng Guiao.

“With our Ginebra game as the background we felt this is the best way to ease the pain of that loss,” added Guiao, referring to his team’s controversial 100-101 loss. “Winning this game makes it easier to accept. We just look forward to our next games. All we can do now is just wait and see what happens in the next playdates. It’s a big relief just to carve out a win today.”

Reid, who played through pain in the fourth quarter, picked his spots and scored easy baskets off passes from his teammates. He broke a 96-deadlock on an extra pass by Beau Belga with 1:39 to go before laying in another gimme off a drop pass from the driving Jeff Chan that made it, 100-96, with only 22.4 ticks left.

Not even a new import could get the Tropang Texters out of harm’s way as their fourth straight setback moved them closer into possibly missing the quarterfinals since getting the boot back in the 2009 Fiesta Conference.

Courtney Fells, the former NC State mainstay, paced TNT with 28 points on a struggling nine-of-29 shooting. He did though, hit a three that cut the deficit to one, 99-100, with 11.7 seconds remaining before Gabe Norwood and Paul Lee made the most out of their trip at the free throw line to seal the game.

Down 75-86 late in the third period, the Texters rallied behind Gilas Pilipinas stars Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro to take a 92-86 advantage with 6:33 left.

JR Quiñahan, who added 13 points, ended the Painters’ drought before Chan, Reid and Belga put ROS back in the driver’s seat, 98-96, with 1:39 left to play.