Rain or Shine import Wayne Chism. AUGUST DELA CRUZ/FILE PHOTO
RAIN or Shine rode their hot shooting from deep to put down Meralco, 92-82, to take a 2-0 series lead in their semifinals matchup of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Playoffs Sunday evening at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Wayne Chism hit a go-ahead three from the top of the key with 45.2 remaining in the game that sealed the Elasto Painters’ pivotal series win.
Painters head coach Yeng Guiao said the Bolts risked their defense when they doubled-up on Chism which left his shooters open.
“It just so happen that we made our outside shots,” Guiao said whose team shot 19-of-38 from deep. “They took the risk of double-teaming Wayne and that opened up our shooters.”
“We won the gamble.”
Rain or Shine’s 19 made three-pointers were 5th in PBA’s all-time list and the league-high for this season. It’s also the second most in franchise history.
It was in the third quarter where the Elasto Painters got it going when they made eight three-pointers and as they took command of the game.
Chris Tiu gave Rain or Shine a 76-59 lead in the third’s 28-second mark with a transition three-pointer from the left wing.
Paul Lee shot consecutive triples to give the Painters a 73-59 lead in the 48-second mark which preceded Tiu’s long ball.
Guiao said they hope to close out the five-game series on Tuesday.
“We will put all our energy on Tuesday,” Guiao said.
Lee paced Rain or Shine with 23 points as he shot 5-of-7 from three-point land.
Jericho Cruz added 15 points while Wayne Chism had an 11-point, 18-rebound double-double for the Painters.
Josh Davis led the Bolts with 25 points and 17 boards. AC
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 92 – Lee 23, Cruz Jericho 15, Chism 11, Tiu 10, Uyloan 9, Belga 7, Quinahan 6, Norwood 5, Ibanes 3, Tang 3, Teng 0, Arana 0, Cruz Jervy 0, Almazan 0.
MERALCO 82 – Davis 25, David 17, Hugnatan 12, Wilson 7, Cortez 6, Caram 5, Hodge 2, Anthony 2, Ildefonso 2, Sena 2, Ferriols 2, Macapagal 0.
Quarters: 16-27, 44-47, 76-61, 92-82