Painters, Texters book semis slots

SUPPOSEDLY with the “lightest” assignment, Rain or Shine needed to dig really deep last night before marching on to the Final Four of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Gunslinger Jeff Chan came up with the steal of the night then went coast-to-coast for the marginal layup in the final 4.6 seconds as the top-seeded Painters nipped No. 8 Barangay Ginebra, 92-91, for a seat in the semifinals at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“We are No. 1 but we had a tough road,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said after the first quarterfinal match that was decided only in the final second. “We were supposed to have a light assignment, but Ginebra is not a light assignment.

“It didn’t feel like we had an advantage playing them,” Guiao, whose wards needed to beat the Gin Kings just once, continued. “They were a top team and I am glad that it’s over.”

Second-ranked Talk ‘N Text had a far easier time earlier after blasting Barako Bull, 127-97, behind a 75-point effort at halftime, to make the next round ahead of everyone else.

On Friday, the opening games of the two best-of-three series also went the way of defending champion Purefoods and Meralco in lopsided styles, with the Star Hotshots and the Bolts gunning for the clincher today opposite Alaska and NLEX, respectively.

Should Purefoods win its 3 p.m. clash with the Aces and the Bolts repeat over the Road Warriors at 5:15 p.m., they will complete the Final Four cast with the Hotshots advancing opposite the Tropang Texters and the Bolts facing the Painters in best-of-five affairs.

Ginebra had a six-point lead in the fourth period before Chan hit all two of his triples inside the final 3:56 and Raymond Almazan added one of his two that had the Painters setting up the thrilling finish.

Chan broke the game’s last tie at 87 with a clutch, booming trey from the left quarter court, only for the Gin Kings to come roaring back and take a 91-90 lead after a towering one-handed jumper by Greg Slaughter going into the final 45.8 ticks.

Almazan, who finished with 17 points, then gave the Kings a chance to wrap up the contest by missing a reverse layup, only for Ginebra to bungle the opportunity when Chan stole possession from Michael Dunigan before sprinting downcourt for the wide-open layup.

Ginebra also did not help its cause any by committing a tournament-high 30 turnovers compared to the 13 of the Painters.

Import Wayne Chism, Chan and Almazan led the Painters with 17 points each.

The scores:

First Game

TALK ‘N TEXT 127—Johnson 35, Castro 18, De Ocampo 16, Rosser 12, Fonacier 10, Alas 8, Seigle 8, Washington 5, Williams 4, Espiritu 3, Carey 2, Labagala 2, Reyes 2, Aban 2, Miller 0.

BARAKO BULL 97—Alabi 23, Intal 22, Lanete 13, Pascual 12, Garcia 6, Lastimosa 6, Marcelo 6, Mercado 4, Hubalde 3, salvador 2, Salva 0, Paredes 0.

Quarters: 45-23, 75-44, 101-73, 127-97

Second Game

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.

BRGY. 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