Painters frustrate Gin Kings

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CALASIAO, Pangasinan—It wouldn’t be a typical heroic night for Gabe Norwood if he would shine on offense alone.

After dropping two big long jumpers inside the final 2:14, Norwood came up with the biggest defensive play and led Rain or Shine to an 83-80 win over Barangay Ginebra in a Petron Saturday Special Game of the PBA Philippine Cup at Calasiao Sports Complex here.

The national team’s best defensive player then snuffed out all of the Gin Kings’ hopes of turning the result around a few plays later when he snared the most critical offensive rebound that led to the Elasto Painters’ second straight win.

Ginebra lost for the second consecutive night and dropped to 1-2 after not getting the benefit in two play reviews—the first on Norwood’s chase-down block on LA Tenorio which would have made it a one-point game, and the second when it was ruled that Tenorio touched the ball last in the ensuing jump ball.

Rain or Shine got two unheralded big men in Norbert Torres and Mark Borboran leading all of its scorers with 12 coming off the bench, while Japeth Aguilar tossed in 19 to spearhead Ginebra.

Maverick Ahanmisi was the only starter in twin digits for the Painters with 11.

Meanwhile, defending four-time champion San Miguel Beer and surprising Columbian shoot for victories to strengthen their respective positions in the elimination round standings on Sunday as action returns to Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

The Beermen have a two-game winning streak going and can add to TNT KaTropa’s woes in the 6:45 p.m. game, just after the Dyip try to assemble their first winning streak and win for the third time in four games in their tussle with struggling NLEX.

The Texters will actually be coming off their first victory but will come into their clash with the Beermen short in manpower, with Troy Rosario expected to sit out another game.

Columbian has made heads turn here after claiming NorthPort’s scalp on Friday, 110-100, and with the Road Warriors reeling from three straight defeats, the Dyip are given more than an even chance in their 4:30 p.m. confrontation.

“I told my players that every game is important for us for us to gain respect [from the field],” Columbian coach Johnedel Cardel said after the Friday win.