Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Rain or Shine needed a solid defensive job in the end game as it held off TNT, 82-79 to open the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup on a good note Friday at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
The Elasto Painters’ defense held through in the clutch as Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams botched their late three-pointers which could have tied the game at 82.
Still, coach Caloy Garcia regarded his wards as “lucky” as Rain or Shine survived the duel despite committing 19 turnovers and allowing the KaTropa to grab 33 offensive boards.
“We’re just lucky that they missed those late threes. We had so much lapses in this game,” he lamented.
Beau Belga led the Elasto Painters’ balanced attack as he fired 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Chris Tiu was also instrumental in the victory, chiming in 12 markers and three boards, Raymond Almazan added a double-double with his 11 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, while Gabe Norwood also got 11 markers and four boards for the team’s first win of the season.
As happy as Garcia was to start the year right, he noted that this game should serve as an eye-opener for Rain or Shine to buckle down and focus on what it prepared for in the offseason.
“It’s good to start the season with a win but again, we had so many lapses. We turned the ball over too much, gave offensive boards up to TNT. The nice thing about it is we’re able to get this win. But I told the boys that we prepared so hard for this in the offseason and it’s unfortunate if we’re just going to waste it with these kinds of performances,” he said.
Castro topped TNT in the losing effort as he flirted with a triple-double of 18 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.
Roger Pogoy added 16 markers but shot 0-of-7 from threes, while Anthony Semerad got 13 points before injuring his right knee early in the fourth quarter.
The Scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 82 — Belga 14, Tiu 12, Almazan 11, Norwood 11, Ahanmisi 9, Daquioag 8, Borboran 5, Nambatac 5, Trollano 4, Ponferrada 3, Maiquez 0, Yap 0.
TNT 79 — Castro 18, Pogoy 16, Semerad 13, Williams 11, Rosario 8, Reyes 7, Torres 4, Tautuaa 2, Carey 0, Nuyles 0, Tallo 0.
Quarters: 20-20, 43-37, 62-51, 82-79.