PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Paul Lee nailed the game-winner to give Rain or Shine an 83-80 win over San Mig Coffee and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven finals series in the 2014 PBA Philippine Cup.
Lee scored on an alley oop from a pass by Gabe Norwood with 0.9 seconds, then knocked down the technical freethrow as San Mig sued for time without timeouts left.
Head coach Yeng Guiao said that the play was for Jeff Chan, who bailed the Elastopainters out with two clutch threes, but commended Norwood’s decision.
“We set up that play for Jeff, but it was Paul who got open. It’s a good recognition for Gabe to give it to Paul,” Guiao said after.
That was only Lee’s sixth point of the game as Beau Belga and Jervy Cruz led the Elastopainters with 15 points apiece, while Chan had eight, all in the second half.
Rain or Shine needed to rush back from a 76-70 deficit courtesy of Chan’s back-to-back threes, but James Yap answered with two clutch jumpers to give San Mig Coffee an 80-78 lead with 34.7 ticks left.
Cruz converted Chan’s miss from downtown in the ensuing play to tie the match, but the Mixers were left with 22.5 seconds left to snatch the game away.
But as San Mig Coffee was setting up on the floor, Tim Cone called a timeout to draw a play with 8.7 ticks remaining, but that also gave Rain or Shine a chance to plan its defense.
None of the Mixers’ options were freed up and Mark Barroca settled for a forced layup, which still left the Elastopainters ample time for the last shot.
“I stepped out of character. I don’t usually do that [call the time out]. I should’ve let the play go,” said head coach Tim Cone after the game.
San Mig Coffee, though, didn’t seem like they just came out of a grueling seven game semifinals as they matched Rain or Shine’s intensity all game long.
Game two is on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.