Paul Lee. PBA IMAGES
Paul Lee stepped up to the plate and delivered big charities as Rain or Shine halted KIA, 94-90, for their fifth straight win in the PBA Governor’s Cup Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was in the free-throw line where the Elasto Painters, through Lee, capped their endgame hold as they kept their distance from the Carnival.
Lee made six straight free-throws in the final 20 seconds to answer every scoring play the Carnival put up.
Painters head coach Yeng Guiao said it was their experience that lifted them up in the crucial moments after Carnival import Hamady N’Diaye wrecked havoc on both ends of the floor.
“It was our experience that gave us an edge in the end game,” Guiao said whose team is at fifth with a 6-4 record. “We are able to close out games because of our experience.”
N’Diaye always cut the Painters lead to two, first with a two-handed jam with 11.7 seconds to go to put KIA closer at 90-88, then a layup off an offensive board at the 5.5-second mark to cut the lead to 92-90.
Despite N’Diaye’s persistence, Lee stepped up and iced the game with his free throws.
Guiao admitted they had problems dealing with N’Diaye who finished with a ridiculous line of 31 points, 21 rebounds, and eight blocks.
“We had problems with their big man, he was changing our shots, blocking our shots,” Guiao said. “He got us off our game.”
Wendell Mckiness had his own double-double to lead Rain or Shine as he finished with 24 points and 20 boards while Lee had 20 points of his own.
Karl Dehesa added 19 points for the 4-5 Carnival.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 94 –Mckines 24, Lee 20, Uyloan 8, Cruz Jco. 8, Ibanez 7, Belga 7, Almazan 6, Quinahan 5, Norwood 3, Tiu 3, Cruz Jvy 2, Chan 1, Teng 0, Tang 0.
Kia 90 — Ndiaye 31, Dehesa 19, Buensuceso 7, Nuyles 6, Chang 6, Yee 6, Bagatsing 6, Revilla 4, Avenido 3, Alvarez 2, Webb 0, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 12-15; 43-40; 68-66; 94-90.CFC