Rain or Shine slips past Meralco five

PAUL Lee completed the go-ahead three-point play with 35.6 seconds left and Beau Belga matched his career-high by hitting the last four Rain or Shine points as the Elasto Painters nipped the Meralco Bolts, 94-89, in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup at Cuneta Astrodome.

Lee hit a looping layup and added a free throw off a foul from Reynel Hugnatan and the Painters went on to hold the Bolts scoreless in the final 49.2 to win for the second straight game and deal Meralco a second consecutive loss.

“It was a hard, tough win,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said. “We’re happy we came out on top because I thought we played really bad today. Meralco forced us into playing a really bad game.”

Belga sealed the deal for the Painters, who trailed at 87-89, by making four straight free throws to cap a 7-0 closing run.

Meralco had its chances, but Gary David threw up a triple try that was off the mark when the Bolts were down by just one. They got the ball back quickly only for Mike Cortez to lose possession while going for a layup.

The Bolts earned another break when referee Art Herrera, the most senior official in the pool, called a jump between Jervy Cruz and David even with the Rain or Shine big man clearly had sole possession.

Cruz won the jump as expected and Meralco had no choice but to give up a foul on Belga for the first pair of those four free throws.

“That call could have changed the outcome of the game,” Guiao said.

Meanwhile, Talk ‘N Text and Petron Blaze, traditional powerhouse sides, clash today at 5:45 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum with both seeking to remain unbeaten.

The Tropang Texters, seeking to win an unprecedented fourth straight title here, and the Boosters will  be coming off impressive victories in the inaugurals even as Globalport and Air21 slug it out for a first win in the 3:30 p.m. contest.

Belga scored 20 points on top of seven rebounds and won Player of the Game honors. Four other Painters shot in twin digits. Lee, the Rookie of the Year in 2012, had 12 points.

David paced the Bolts with 24 points and Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who gave Meralco that 89-87 lead with a 20-foot jumper, had 14 points and seven rebounds.

Meralco also missed Cliff Hodge in the last 10 minutes after the sophomore power forward twisted his right ankle so bad going for a drive he had to be helped back into the locker room.

The scores:

First Game

RAIN OR SHINE 94—Belga 20, Arana 14, Rodriguez 13, Lee 12, Chan 11, Norwood 7, Cruz 6, Tang 5, Ibanes 3, Nuyles 2, Teng 1, Almazan 0.

MERALCO 89—David 24, Al-Hussaini 14, Hugnatan 11, Cortez 10, Wilson 10, Dillinger 8, Hodge 7, Guevarra 5, Salvacion 0, Allado 0, Mandani 0.

Quarters: 18-23, 38-41, 66-60, 94-89