RAIN or Shine’s Jeff Chan (center) tries to get out of the way as team-mate Chris Tiu protects possession from Alaska’s Dondon Hontiveros in last night’s game at Smart Araneta Coliseum. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Rookie Jericho Cruz played like the most seasoned man for Rain or Shine last night, leading the Elasto Painters to a 98-95 victory over Alaska to stay on target for an automatic Final Four slot in the PBA Philippine Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Selected ninth overall in the last Rookie Draft, Cruz scored the Painters’ last four points as they won a sixth straight game for an 8-2 mark and a tie for the lead after Talk ‘N Text beat San Miguel Beer, 107-101, in the nightcap.
The Painters didn’t get the free ride they were hoping for with a San Miguel win. Now they gun for the semifinal berth anew tomorrow when they clash with Barangay Ginebra.
Rain or Shine and San Miguel now tote identical 8-2 records but the Beermen have the lighter final assignment against winless Blackwater on Tuesday at Cuneta Astrodome.
Talk ‘N Text also remained in the hunt for a top-two finish after closing out the eliminations with an 8-3 record. The Tropang Texters can advance if Ginebra beats Rain or Shine as they will edge out the Elasto Painters under the quotient system.
Things can get really muddy if the Elite upset the Beermen as a four-way tie will ensue. That would then put Talk ‘N Text and Alaska at 1-2 under the quotient system.
Rain or Shine equaled the tournament-best win streak of six games—at the expense of the team that first set it—courtesy of Cruz as the former Adamson ace bailed them out at crunch time.
Former Beermen Danny Seigle and Jay Washington were the heroes for the Texters, shooting nine points each in the payoff frame.
Alaska also closed out with an 8-3 mark with its only hope of advancing to the Final Four resting on victories by Ginebra over Rain or Shine and Blackwater over San Miguel.
Cruz first pulled off a veteran move over JV Casio, grabbing a missed free throw by Jeff Chan and scoring on a follow-up that gave the Painters a 96-95 lead with 18.5 ticks left.
And after Eric Menk missed on the other end, Cruz caught a pass from Paul Lee for a layup with just seven-tenths of a second left
“If we lose on Sunday (tomorrow), it (six-game winning streak) will be worthless,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said.
The scores:
First Game
RAIN OR SHINE 98—Lee 19, Cruz Jericho 16, Belga 16, Norwood 12, Chan 8, Quinahan 8, Tiu 5, Almazan 5, Uyloan 3, Tang 3, Arana 2, Ibanes 1, Cruz Jervy 0.
ALASKA 95—Abueva 18, Menk 16, Baguio 12, Casio 12, Manuel 11, Thoss 8, Hontiveros 6, Dela Cruz 4, Exciminiano 3, Jazul 3, Banchero 2, Eman 0, Dela Rosa 0, Bugia 0.
Quarters: 18-23, 42-45, 67-73, 98-95
Second Game
TALK N’ TEXT 107—Washington 19, Castro 19, Alas 12, Seigle 12, Reyes Rob 11, Rosser 10, De Ocampo 8, Reyes Ryan 5, Carey 4, Fonacier 4, Aban 3, Aguilar 0, Espiritu 0.
SAN MIGUEL BEER 101—Lutz 25, Fajardo 18, Santos 16, Fortuna 15, Ross 9, Maierhofer 5, Tubid 5, Mercado 4, Pascual 2, Kramer 2, Omolon 0, Semerad 0, Chua 0.
Quarters: 28-23, 55-48, 77-76, 107-101