PBA: Rain or Shine snags 3-1 lead vs Petron

Jireh Ibañes of Rain or Shine goes for a reverse lay up off June Mar Fajardo of Petron in Monday night’s match at Smart Araneta Coliseum. August dela Cruz

MANILA, Philippines — Even without a coach and its premier point guard for most of Monday night, Rain or Shine played with great maturity and put a foot in the Finals of the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup.

Playing hard on both ends, the Elasto Painters scored an 88-83 victory over fancied Petron Blaze for a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series, doing it with coach Yeng Guiao ejected and premier sentinel Paul Lee limping out in the second quarter at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Beau Belga, who got a thorough dressing down from Guiao at the sidelines for losing focus and picking up a fourth foul as early as the second quarter, hit the game’s biggest shot, a triple with 1:53 remaining that helped stave off the Boosters.

That was the burly center’s only basket for the night and it was the one that mattered most, as he regained his wits and finished the game that had the Painters coming back from several double-digit deficits.

More importantly, the victory gave the Painters three chances to wrap the series up and advance to the championship playoffs here for the second straight year.

Last season, Rain or Shine got swept by Talk ‘N Text in four games.

“The guys just never gave up, they won this game on their own. I had nothing to do with this win,” Guiao said.

“They (Painters) lost Paul (Lee), they lost me, but they kept their fighting hearts. “Any team made of softer material would have folded up,” added Guiao, proudly.

The Boosters, who came into the game fresh from a 33-point shellacking of the Painters just two nights before, scored just one point in the final four minutes and would now have to climb out of a formidable hole.

Ryan Araña scored 12 points and led all Rain or Shine shooters.

The scores: 

RAIN OR SHINE 88—Araña 12, Chan 11, Ibanes 11, Norwood 10, Cruz 8, Rodriguez 8, Quinahan 7, Lee 7, Nuyles 6, Belga 3, Tang 3, Almazan 2, Tiu 0.

PETRON 83—Fajardo 27, Santos 14, Lutz 13, Lassiter 10, Ross 9, Tubid 5, Cabagnot 5, Duncil 0, Taha 0, Kramer 0, Hubalde 0, Deutchman 0.

Quarters: 33-28, 48-50, 72-69, 88-83