Painters grab top

Meralco found out the hard way that if it leaves Ed Daquioag open, he could zap the Bolts.

With nobody to challenge him, Daquioag hit a wide-open, game-clinching three with 12.7 seconds left in overtime to lift the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters past the Bolts, 106-99, on Sunday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Daquioag’s triple capped a hot-shooting night for the Elasto Painters, who knocked down 17 threes on their way to sealing the No. 1 spot and the twice-to-beat leverage going into the eight-team quarterfinal round.

“This is special for us, because we know that if we close this out tonight, we don’t have to worry about next week,” said import Reggie Johnson after controlling the boards for Rain or Shine that helped them race to an 18-point lead early on.

Now carrying a pacesetting 9-1 record, the Elasto Painters will face the TNT KaTropa on their final elimination round game on July 7 without pressure.

“We can gear out to the playoffs and find out who we gonna play,” said Johnson.

“The good thing about this team is that everybody steps up. I can score 50 or 40 points per game, but if they’re not involved, we’re not going to be No. 1.”

In the second game, Barangay Ginebra walloped Alaska, 105-86, to climb to a share of sixth place with GlobalPort (5-5) and within reach of sister team San Miguel Beer (5-4).

Justin Brownlee finished with 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Kings, who led by as many as 33 points.

The Aces absorbed their second straight loss for a 7-3 card, tied with TNT KaTropa in second place, going into the nine-day break as the league gives way to the Fiba World Cup qualifiers.

While Johnson won his matchup with Arinze Onuaku in the paint, Maverick Ahanmisi was also nothing short of spectacular, his game-long brilliance of 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists crucial in weathering the ferocious Meralco comeback.

“Winning a game like this shows our character,” said Ahanmisi, referring to Rain or Shine’s 3-0 record in overtime this conference.

Still, the Bolts are assured of a quarterfinal spot despite a second straight defeat in a 7-4 record.