MERALCO gunner Gary David gets the pressure treatment from Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee in last night’s game at the Big Dome. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
FROM the depths of the standings and into the top four—that’s what Rain or Shine’s journey has been so far in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Wendell McKines scored 26 points and hauled down 12 rebounds to lead the Elasto Painters past the Meralco Bolts, 96-89, last night and to a twice-to-beat bonus in the first round of the playoffs of the season-closing conference at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was the sixth straight win for the Painters who closed out the round with a 7-4 card. Rain or Shine will finish No. 3 and will draw the No. 6 qualifier in the quarterfinals.
“I was on the verge of giving up on the top four; we were just trying to survive,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said. “I would have been happy just being in the top eight, but we went on a streak.
“We have to win one more to get to the semifinals, and that is our next objective,” continued the firebrand coach, who got into a halfcourt argument with Meralco counterpart Norman Black in the second period after a physical sequence.
Meralco, which took a 56-46 lead into the third period, dropped to 5-5.
Defending champion Star barged into the playoffs earlier at 5-5 after a 117-89 ripping of Barako Bull, which dropped to 6-5 with its fourth straight defeat.
The scores:
First Game
STAR 117—Blakely 33, Yap 17, Simon 15, Mallari 11, Maliksi 10, Barroca 8, Pingris 6, Devance 6, Pennisi 6, Melton 3, Taha 2, Reavis 0, Gaco 0.
BARAKO BULL 89—McMorrow 23, Intal 14, Salva 11, Ababou 11, Hubalde 7, Pascual 4, Wilson 4, Garcia 2, Chua 2, Sorongon 2, Forrester 0, Yeo 0, Salvador 0.
Quarters: 34-20, 58-37, 86-62, 117-89
Second Game
RAIN OR SHINE 96—McKines 26, Chan 14, Lee 12, Ibanes 10, Belga 9, Tiu 6, Cruz Jervy 6, Cruz Jericho 5, Almazan 4, Uyloan 2, Arana 2, Quinahan 0.
MERALCO 89—Emmett 33, David 14, Dillinger 12, Hodge 7, Ando 6, Hugnatan 6, Cortez 5, Ildefonso 4, Nabong 2.
Quarters: 21-30, 46-56, 70-68, 96-89