Elasto Painters book clash with Beermen

Playing with amazing control the entire night, Rain or Shine completed its long journey to the Final Four of the Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup by ripping TNT apart, 104-89, in their knockout match at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Getting contributions all around, the Elasto Painters established their character on the Tropang Texters early, finding holes on the enemy’s defense practically at will to win with plenty to spare and extend the longest active streak by any team in semifinal stints to eight.

Raymond Almazan scored 15 points and led six others in twin digits, dramatizing a balanced offensive effort and the Painters’ readiness to take on a tougher challenge when the league resumes on Jan. 4.

“We were finally able to finish (and make the Final Four), unlike against NLEX,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, referring to the botched chance to qualify outright after losing to the Road Warriors. “We had a chance for the short route and we blew it, probably because we weren’t prepared yet.

“You can’t get to the semifinals if you are not ready. This is a blessing in disguise. This long route has made us ready. We’re better prepared now.”

Up next for the Elasto Painters will be the defending champion San Miguel Beermen, with the other Final Four pairing to feature top-ranked Alaska against giant-killer GlobalPort starting on Jan. 4.

The Painters and the Beermen open their own best-of-seven series the following day. Both openers will be played at MoA Arena.

Rain or Shine—even if it has won just one title under Yeng Guiao since he took over in 2011—has now qualified for the Final Four for the ninth time in the last 10 conferences and is, hands-down, the most consistent team in the field.

The only time they failed to make the semifinals came in the Commissioner’s Cup in 2013, when the Painters blew a twice-to-beat advantage against Barangay Ginebra.

The victory over TNT also marked the first time in 13 years that Guiao has beaten a TNT team in a series. The Elasto Painters’ last playoff win over the Tropang Texters came in the 2002 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

Jason Castro paced the Texters with 25 points but the Rain or Shine big men were able to hold down talented rookies Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario to a combined 24.

Guiao said he will give his boys two days’ rest before the Jan. 5 clash with the Beermen, where Paul Lee, his superstar point guard who has yet to see action this season, is expected to play.

“Paul is going to play in the semifinals,” said Guiao. “He can be there quickly. Paul is determined and talented, it won’t take him too much time [to get adjusted].”

Meanwhile, the PBA has summoned the four referees that officiated the Barangay Ginebra-GlobalPort knockout game last Sunday. The league will decide on the sanctions it will hand out against the referees, who supposedly failed to call a ball-hog violation on Stanley Pringle in the dying seconds of the game, according to a league insider.

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 104—Almazan 15, Trollano 14, Chan 13, Cruz 11, Norwood 11, Quinahan 11, Ahanmisi 10, Ponferada 8, Belga 6, Tiu 5, Ibanes 0.

TNT 89—Castro 25, Tautuaa 14, Aban 11, Reyes R. 10, Rosario 10, Seigle 10, Williams 5, Reyes J. 2, Fonacier 1, Rosser 1, Ababou 0, Carey 0, Miranda 0.

Quarters: 26-20, 52-44, 84-75, 104-89