Jeff Chan of Rain or Shine (dark) vs Mark Caguioa of Ginebra (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines—Rain or Shine overcame a hostile Ginebra team—and a hostile Ginebra crowd—92-91, eliminating PBA’s most famous team in the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs on Saturday evening at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Jeff Chan got into a gem of a defensive moment as he stole the ball from Ginebra import Michael Dunigan at the end of the shot clock and drove to his own basket for the game-winning layup with 4.9 seconds left in the game.
Painters head coach Yeng Guiao was “glad” that their one-game playoff with Ginebra was over and, he said, they all got lucky.
“Swerte lang (That was just luck),” Guiao said. “We were the No.1 seeds but we didn’t feel like we had an advantage.”
“Ginebra is never a light opponent.”
With the game tied at 87-87 at the 1:47 mark of the fourth, Chan calmly drilled a three-pointer from the left wing off a transition play with 1:33 left to give the Painters a 90-87 lead.
A couple of straight baskets from Mark Caguioa and big man Greg Slaughter gave Ginebra a 91-90 lead with 45.8 remaining in the game.
Guiao praised Chan who came up big in the right moments and youngster Raymond Almazan who, Guiao said, played like a veteran.
“Raymond, he’s at least 20 pounds lighter than his opponents but he kept fighting, and that’s a sign of maturity for him.”
And fight did Almazan did.
Almazan had 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter including an emphatic two-handed jam with 2:03 remaining in the game that gave the Painters an 87-86 edge.
Rain or Shine did not have one player who dominated in the offensive end but instead relied on Wayne Chism, Almazan, and Chan who each had 17 points.
Chism also grabbed 16 rebounds.
It was also an odd rebounding night as Ginebra outmuscled Rain or Shine with a 69-49 advantage in the boards.
Ginebra, however, were terrible when handling the leather as they turned it over a conference-worst 30 times.
Slaughter led Ginebra with 26 points and 16 rebounds while Dunnigan had 11 points and 16 boards. RC
The scores:
Rain or Shine 92—Chism 17, Chan 17, Almazan 17, Lee 9, Norwood 9, Uyloan 5, Arana 4, Quinahan 4, Cruz 4, Teng 2, Tiu 2, Belga 2, Teng 0
Ginebra 91—Slaughter 26, Aguilar 14, Caguioa 14, Dunigan 11, Urbiztondo 7, Tenorio 7, Helterbrand 5, Yeo 4, Baracael 3, Ellis 0
Quarters: 21-18; 44-42; 63-68; 92-91