Rain or Shine, NLEX climb to joint 4th

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JEFF Chan took it upon himself to rescue Rain or Shine from what could have been an early demise in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“I had a good feeling about it,” Chan said minutes after firing 19 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Elasto Painters to a 109-104 win over Phoenix Petroleum Friday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum that enhanced their playoff chances.

Chan, who finished with 25 points, also issued an assist to import Mo Charlo for a critical basket as Rain or Shine rose to 5-4, its hopes of gaining a fair deal in the quarterfinals getting a huge boost.

NLEX scored a 110-105 decision of GlobalPort in the second game and climbed into the same boat as the Painters.

Al Thornton scored 33 points and Sean Anthony 21 to pace the Road Warriors, who dealt the Batang Pier a sixth straight defeat in a 2-7 card.

“I just don’t want to lose,” Chan added after tallying his biggest output in the last four conferences. “They (Fuel Masters) were on us and we knew that losing this game would have put us in a very difficult position [to make the Final Four].”

Aside from Chan’s heroics, Rain or Shine also got a break with 17.9 seconds left when a Kevin Pinkney basket, which would have given the Fuel Masters a 106-105 lead, was nullified because the Phoenix import held on to the net while his shot was still circling the ring.

“It was a break due us, I believe,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said after dropping the Fuel Masters to 3-6 and closer to elimination. “I felt sure that it was a goal-tend, but I still had doubts that the refs would call it [after] the review.”

Meanwhile, Alaska battles Star in a Petron Saturday Special game slated at 5 p.m. at USEP gym in Davao City, with the Aces needing no less than a win to stay in the running for a top two finish.

The scores:

First Game

RAIN OR SHINE 109—Chan 25, Charlo 17, Cruz 16, Almazan 10, Quinahan 8, Trollano 6, Belga 5, Norwood 5, Tiu 5, Ponferada 4, Ahanmisi 3, Lee 3, Nimes 2, Ibanes 0.

PHOENIX 104—Wilson 21, Garcia 20, Pinkney 20, Lanete 13, Intal 11, Baracael 8, Brondial 4, Monfort 4, Urbiztondo 3, Pennisi 0.
Quarters: 27-27, 54-45, 77-76, 109-104

Second Game

NLEX 110—Thornton 33, Anthony 21, Alas 18, Taulava 13, Lanete 11, Villanueva J. 11, Enciso 3, Borboran 0, Cradona 0, Khobuntin 0, Villanueva E. 0, Reyes 0.

GLOBALPORT 105—Romeo 27, Taggart 22, Pringle 11, Taha 9, Washington 9, Kramer 8, Fortuna 7, Maierhofer 5, Jensen 4, Mamaril 3, Uyloan 0, Yeo 0.

Quarters: 35-19, 58-49, 78-74, 110-105