Rain or Shine drops Ginebra in big hole

RAIN or Shine import Wayne Chism is fouled on the drive by Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar in last night’s game at the Big Dome. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines — Yeng Guiao’s faith in Wayne Chism finally paid off.

The much-maligned Rain or Shine import played his best PBA game Sunday night, helping Paul Lee and the rest of the Elasto Painters plaster Barangay Ginebra, 105-101, in overtime, for the No. 4 spot in the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“The team and myself were the only ones not giving up on him,” Guiao said after Chism shot 30 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and made five blocks as the Painters sealed a best-of-three clash with Meralco in the quarterfinals starting Monday at 5:45 p.m., also at the Big Dome.

The Painters closing out their elimination-round stint as the No. 4 team with a 5-4 card. Meralco finished fifth, also at 5-4.

Ginebra ended up eighth with a 3-6 card and would need to beat unbeaten No.1 Talk ‘N Text two straight times to gain the Final Four.

Air 21 wound up seventh and will take on San Miguel Beer, also needing to win twice to reach the semifinals.

The other best-of-three series will have No. 3 Alaska clashing with San Mig Coffee, the sixth seed, also starting Monday at 8 p.m.

The Aces earlier hammered the Mixers, 85-66, in a game that looked like no one wanted to win as both squads kept their stars on the bench most of the time.

Chism helped the Painters match the Gin Kings’ jack-rabbit start anchored on new import Gabe Freeman, while Lee and the rest of the team finished off Ginebra in the extension.

Lee posted 25 points and six assists, scoring 12 of his total in the fourth quarter where the Painters doggedly tried to keep in step.

Greg Slaughter scored 22 points for the Kings, but had two misses from the stripe with 8.3 seconds left off a Chism foul which could have snapped the game’s last tie at 94 and potentially could have averted the extension.

Freeman, in his first PBA game in two years, scored 17 first-quarter points and a total of 23 for the half, spending himself out to finish with 29. He had 17 rebounds and six assists.

The scores:

First Game ALASKA 85—Dozier 8, Reyes 8, Manuel 8, Jazul 7, Buenafe 7, Abueva 7, Espinas 6, Eximiniano 6, Eman 6, Casio 5, Baguio 5, Dela Cruz 4, Thoss 4, Belasco 2, Hontiveros 2.

SAN MIG COFFEE 66—De Ocampo 10, Acuna 9, Gaco 9, Cawaling 8, Devance 6, Simon 5, Reavis 5, Barroca 4, Mallari 4, Holstein 4, Sanggalang 2.

Quarters: 22-14; 44-34; 67-48; 85-66

Second Game

RAIN OR SHINE 105—Chism 30, Lee 25, Belga 10, Cruz 10, Arana 8, Norwood 7, Chan 6, Nuyles 3, Teng 3, Ibanes 3, Almazan 0, Tiu 0, Tang 0, Rodriguez 0.

GINEBRA 101—Freeman 29, Slaughter 22, Caguioa 17, Helterbrand 16, Ababou 8, Tenorio 6, Mamaril 3, Baracael 0, Ellis 0, Aguilar 0, Urbiztondo 0.

Quarters: 20-30; 42-50; 94-94; 105-101