JR Quiñahan (left) and the rest of Rain or Shine’s bigs held their own against the most dominant player in the PBA today in San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo. PBA IMAGES
With the solo lead on the line and playing the consensus team to beat in the PBA Philippine Cup, Maverick Ahanmisi came up with a performance that finally validated Rain or Shine’s surprise Draft Day gamble more than two months ago.
The 6-foot-1 rookie came off the bench to shoot 14 points in a come-from-behind 99-84 decision of San Miguel Beer at Mall of Asia Arena as Rain or Shine remained unscathed after three games.
“He showed he was going to withstand the pressure. I knew by his body language, he’s not fancy, not noisy,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said of his rookie, picked third overall in the Draft. “It’s a validation of our judgment on Draft Day.”
The Painters roared back from 11 points down early in the second quarter and pulled away in the third to eventually deal the Beermen their first loss in three games.
Blackwater won a Philippine Cup game for the first time in its PBA existence, and Carlo Lastimosa made the breakthrough doubly memorable.
Lastimosa hit a running jumper off the glass under heavy pressure last night and lifted the Elite to a 92-90 upset of the Meralco Bolts that snapped a 13-game losing streak.
The scores:
First Game
BLACKWATER 92—Erram 14, Cervantes 12, Cortez 12, Gamalinda 12, Sena 12, Lastimosa 11, Agovida 9, Canada 3, Reyes 3, Ballesteros 2, Dela Cruz 2, Vosotros 0.
MERALCO 90—David 23, Dillinger 15, Hodge 13, Al-Hussaini 10, Alapag 7, Guevarra 7, Newsome 7, Hugnatan 4, Buenafe 2, Caram 2, Amer 0, Faundo 0, Nabong 0.
Quarters: 26-16, 48-33, 69-63, 92-90
Second Half
RAIN OR SHINE 99—Almazan 15, Belga 15, Chan 15, Ahanmisi 14, Norwood 14, Ponferada 8, Tiu 8, Ibanes 6, Cruz 3, Quinahan 1, Trollano 0.
SAN MIGUEL 84—Cabagnot 16, Fajardo 13, Lassiter 12, Santos 12, Espinas 10, Ross 10, Tubid 5, Lutz 4, Reyes 2, Araña 0, De Ocampo 0, Heruela 0.
Quarters: 22-22, 41-44, 71-58, 99-84