PBA: Despite lackluster game, Rain or Shine holds off Meralco

Jervy Cruz of Rain or Shine (dark) vs Mike Cortez and Cliff Hodge of Meralco (light). Nuki Sabio/PBA

MANILA, Philippines —  Rain or Shine overcame a lackluster showing and came away with a 94-89 win over Meralco, with the help of some clutch plays, Friday in the 2013 PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup at Cuneta Astrodome.

The Elastopainters couldn’t get any form of momentum in the second half, and even had to play catch up late in the match before holding off the Bolts, led by the duo of Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Gary David.

A nifty drive resulting in three-point play from guard Paul Lee with 35.6 ticks left swung the lead back to Rain or Shine’s favor, 90-89, before Beau Belga steered them out of trouble with clutch freethrows.

“It was a tough win. We were happy we came out with the win. We played really bad, it just so happens we made huge baskets and crucial stops,” said head coach Yeng Guiao.

David misfired a potential go-ahead trey after Lee’s go-ahead, but that still didn’t put Rain or Shine in the clear with 15.4 seconds left.

After a dizzying sequence, a jump ball was whistled between Jervy Cruz and Gary David even if the replay showed that Cruz had possession of the leather.

“We were surprised by that jump ball call. I thought it was farfetched to call a jump at that point. That could’ve cost us the game,” Guiao said.

But Belga made sure Meralco won’t have space to send the game into OT, swishing in four straight freebies in the winding seconds.

The Elastopainters opened the All-Filipino Cup with a 2-0 start, with Belga tying his career-high of 20 points, which went along with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

The Bolts, meanwhile, are still winless after two assignments despite another sterling effort from David and Al-Hussaini, who combined for 18 of their 29 fourth-period points.

Reigning scoring champion David finished with 24 points, while Al-Hussaini had 14.