Painters keep title bid alive

No matter how big the deficit, Jeff Chan always believes Rain Or Shine can come back.

Chan found his range when his team needed it most as the Elasto Painters survived the San Mig Coffee Mixers, 81-74, last night to remain in the hunt for the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup title.

With the Mixers charging back, Chan swished a turnaround jumper from the corner, an incredibly tough shot over PJ Simon that snuffed any hope that San Mig Coffee had from taking the crown for good.

“We just ground out a win and we’re still certainly behind in the series,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao after they cut the best-of-seven series to 3-2.

“But one thing we can promise the fans is we will fight it out to the end.”

Chan rediscovered his shooting form in the final half, knocking down 10 straight points capped by a pair of threes as the Elasto Painters gained control, 69-60, early in the fourth.

Not to be outdone, James Yap retaliated with a surge of jumpers of his own, drilling two threes and slicing the lead to five inside two minutes.

Gabe Norwood swished a three from the corner in the next sequence and Chan closed out the shooting spree with that difficult shot over Simon.

“We always think that we can come back. That’s our way of staying positive in the series,” said Chan, who had 24 points.

Marc Pingris, showing up despite a hurting right eye that got badly poked in Game 4, had 18 points along with Yap for the Mixers, who seemed in control right from the start only to get flustered in the end.

“We gave a valiant effort on trying to beat this team four games in a row, but it’s a difficult task,” said San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone.

On the cusp of greatness, Cone is aiming to become the winningest coach in PBA history with another title win. He’s currently tied with the legendary Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan with 15 titles.

Woeful freethrow shooting hounded the Elasto Painters all game long as they missed 17 of 28 from the line, four freebies late in the first half that would have turn things around.

Ryan Araña misfired a pair of freebies and Lee split his charities, missing the chance for the Elasto Painters to knot the count after trailing by nine points twice.

Mark Barroca swished back-to-back jumpers after coach Yeng Guiao was slapped a technical and the Mixers regained control going into the dugout at halftime.

The Elasto Painters actually led, 9-4, in the early going, but it was wiped out just as quick.

Yap ignited a big run with a long jumper and Joe Devance rattled off seven straight points, including a three that rocked the massive coliseum.

Trailing, 17-9, Beau Belga broke the lull with a freethrow and Gabe Norwood nailed a three as the Elasto Painters got their bearings back.

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 81—Chan 24, Belga 10, Tiu 9, Lee 8, Norwood 7, Quiñahan 6, Rodriguez 5, Arana 4, Almazan 4, Cruz 2, Ibanes 2.

SAN MIG COFFEE 74—Pingris 18, Yap 18, Mallari 11, Barroca 10, Devance 7, Simon 4, Sangalang 3, De Ocampo 2, Reavis 1, Melton 0.

Quarters: 14-20, 35-43, 59-54, 81-74

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