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Rain or Shine remained in contention for a top four berth after turning back Blackwater, 122-98, in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters tightened their defensive screws in the second half, where they outscored the Elite, 65-42.
“I guess we just wanted it more today. Everybody who came in the game stepped up,” said ROS head coach Caloy Garcia. “Basically, I just told them that we have a chance on the top four and the only way we can have that chance is to win.”
“In the first half I thought we were just okay offensively but our defense wasn’t there. In the second half I think we picked it up,” added Garcia after steering his squad to 7-4.
J’Nathan Bullock fired a game-high 30 points, including 12 in the third quarter where the Painters turned a one-point game to a lopsided affair. They took an 89-77 lead entering the fourth period.
Raymond Almazan made the most out of his time on the floor, finishing with 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and six rebounds in less than 19 minutes. Rain or Shine was +20 when the lanky big man was in the game.
It was also Almazan, who extended the Painters’ lead to 20, 103-83, after hitting a triple late.
The Elite, who wrapped up the eliminations at 5-6 and will face the top seed in the playoffs, drew another explosive showing from their new acquisition Allein Maliksi, who led his team with 29 points that went with eight rebounds.
Henry Walker, who sparked Blackwater’s resurgence after coming in as replacement import after the Elite dropped their first three games in the conference, had 21 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
The Painters clicked on both ends of the floor especially on the offensive end, burying 16 3-pointers and dishing out 27 assists against only eight turnovers.