ALASKA’S RJ Jazul tries to put up a difficult, twisting shot against the defense of JR Quiñahan of Rain or Shine. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
GAME 2 of the Rain or Shine-Alaska Final Four series in the PBA Philippine Cup went basically the same way as the series opener two days ago.
The only difference was the ending as the Elasto Painters held on to deadlock their best-of-seven series at 1-all after a 102-95 victory over the hard-fighting Aces at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Rain or Shine opened up a huge first half lead as in Game 1 last Thursday, but was up to the task of staying on top this time as Paul Lee, Jonathan Uyloan and a host of others delivered at the crunch.
From a 19-point lead at the half and 57-36 ahead early in the third, the Painters had to weather a furious Alaska fightback that had the Aces coming to within five points at 85-80 in the fourth.
“We were erratic (in Game 1 when Alaska made a run),” assistant coach Caloy Garcia, who called the shots with Yeng Guiao arriving late because of the holiday traffic, said. “Today, we were able to settle down.”
Guiao made it to the venue at halftime and after seeing his squad holding a 55-36 lead, asked Garcia to continue.
“There were still instances when we turned the ball over (during the height of the Alaska rally) and we will have to take a look at that and address them in practice,” Garcia said.
Lee, the former Rookie of the Year who had just seven points in Game 1, tossed in eight of his 13 points in the fourth, including two triples, and Uyloan finished with a career-high-tying 18.
Game 3 of this series is slated tomorrow at 7 p.m.
Alaska also did not help its cause that much, committing a season-high 25 blunders with former MVP Eric Menk accounting for seven of them and Chris Banchero, Cyrus Baguio and Calvin Abueva responsible for four each.
Jervy Cruz paced the Painters with 19 points with Norwood and Raymond Almazan chipping in 15 and 10, respectively for the Painters, the losing finalists here to San Mig Coffee last season.
Menk led the Aces with 18 with Vic Manuel shooting 17. Baguio had 14 and Abueva 12 but was effectively boxed out all night on the way to just seven rebounds.
Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer shoots for a 2-0 lead over Talk ‘N Text today, having all the momentum going into their 5 p.m. game also at the Arena.
The Beermen will be coming off a 109-86 destruction of the Tropang Texters in their series opener on Friday after peeling away in the second quarter with a series of spurts that left Talk ‘N Text dumbfounded.
June Mar Fajardo and Arwind Santos were the main men for San Miguel in that game, and Talk ‘N Text coach Jong Uichico must find an antidote for the duo if the Texters are to even think of making this game close.
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 102—Cruz 19, Uyloan 18, Norwood 15, Lee 13, Almazan 10, Chan 7, Araña 7, Quiñahan 6, Ibañes 5, Belga 2, Tang 0.
ALASKA 95—Menk 18, Manuel 17, Baguio 14, Abueva 12, Banchero 8, Casio 8, Hontiveros 7, Thoss 3, Exciminiano 3, Jazul 3, Dela Cruz 2, Eman 0, Dela Roza 0.
Quarters: 19-16, 55-36, 83-74, 102-95