E-Painters, Texters grab top playoff slots

MARK Yee of KIA tries to break free from the Rain or Shine double team of Wayne Chism and Ryan Araña in yesterday’s game. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Rain or Shine and Talk ‘N Text pummeled separate foes Sunday and took the top two spots in the first round of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs while relegating idle defending champion Purefoods to No. 3.

The Elasto Painters built leads of as huge as 27 points before scoring a 119-99 victory over KIA Motors, while the Tropang Texters broke away in the second quarter to down Alaska, 101-93, in a game that almost got out of hand in the dying seconds at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rain or Shine and Talk ‘N Text finished with 8-3 cards after the eliminations and clinched the two twice-to-beat privileges by virtue of superior quotients over the Star Hotshots.

Purefoods, which also finished with the same record, will now have to go through a best-of-three quarterfinal series with the No. 6 team for a place in the Final Four.

“What is important for us is getting that twice-to-beat advantage,” said Rain or Shine coach Guiao. “We don’t care whether we’re No. 1 or No. 2 or whichever it is we will be facing.”

Last night’s losers are still in contention, though, with Alaska to face Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday and the Carnival awaiting the result of the last four games to know if they can advance via the quotient system.

Idle San Miguel Beer also earned a new lease on life after last night’s results as the Beermen can still march on if they beat Globalport by at least 11 points tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Talk ‘N Text import Ivan Johnson, who choked a player in the Korean pro league before coming over, and Alaska’s Calvin Abueva got into an altercation in the dying seconds that lasted as both teams made their way to  their locker rooms after the game.

The scores:

First Game

RAIN OR SHINE 119—Chism 28, Almazan 16, Lee 14, Tiu 13, Arana 13, Norwood 10, Belga 8, Tang 7, Cruz Jericho 4, Chan 4, Quinahan 2, Uyloan 0, Ibanes 0, Teng 0.

KIA 99—Ramos 45, Revilla 15, Dehesa 10, Cervantes 9, Ighalo 8, Cawaling 2, Thiele 2, Alvarez 2, Pascual 2, Yee 2, Avenido 2, Buensuceso 0, Bartolo 0.

Quarters: 30-26, 71-46, 92-80, 119-99

Second Game

TALK N’ TEXT 101—Johnson 47, De Ocampo 20, Castro 10, Washington 8, Fonacier 7, Rosser 7, Alas 2, Aban 0.

ALASKA 93—James 23, Abueva 16, Hontiveros 11, Baguio 10, Casio 10, Jazul 9, Manuel 6, Exciminiano 4, Banchero 2, Thoss 2, Menk 0.

Quarters: 27-25, 48-31, 74-56, 101-93