Duke Crews virtually frolicked in the absence of somebody versatile enough to restrain him as Rain or Shine notched a 99-95 win over Barako Bull Thursday night in a PBA Commissioner Cup match at the Alshabab Club in Dubai.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao felt the biggest break came midway in the second period when Dermarr Johnson limped off the court with an inflamed groin following a bone-jarring pick.
“It was a big break—I think that’s the story of the game,” said Guiao after the Elasto Painters finally chalked up win No. 1 after three games.
But the turning point actually happened halfway through the fourth quarter when the E-Painters came away with a 9-2 run in a span of 1:30 built on successive three-pointers by swingman Jeff Chan and bulky center Beau Belga.
Crews, the most vertically challenged import in town at 6 feet 7, fired 27 points and hauled down 14 rebounds as the 6-10 Johnson could only watch from the sidelines while his counterpart tore the Barako defense apart.
The E-Painters, who struggled in the first two quarters, kicked into high gear in the second half, going 18 of 33 (55 percent) from the field while holding the Energy down to 41 percent on 17 of 41 shooting.
Belga shot eight of his 20 points and Chan had nine of 12 in that second-half assault even as super rookie Paul Lee—who lapsed into a pair of decisive errors in their recent 120-122 setback to the Powerade Tigers—found his range in the final frame.
Lee had 13 points, including two pivotal free throws with 76 seconds left that gave the E-Painters a 96-92 buffer and cushioned Don Allado’s basket at the other end.
Mick Pennisi had 19 points and Willie Miller scattered 17 for the Energy, who squandered an 11-point cushion right after Johnson’s exit due to poor shooting.
Eight of the Energy’s 13 turnovers also came in the final half.
With their third consecutive setback, the Energy (1-3) would need to sweep their five remaining assignments to reach the quarterfinal playoffs.
Despite the win, Guiao was still dissatisfied with his wards’ efforts.
“We don’t want to dwell on the negatives too much,” said Guiao. “We just have to encourage ourselves going into tomorrow’s game.”
Rain or Shine next plays Barangay Ginebra at the same venue on Friday. June Navarro
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 99—Crews 27, Belga 20, Lee 13, Chan 12, Arana 9, Buenafe 9, Quinahan 2, Matias 2, Cruz 2, Ibanez 2, Norwood 1, Jaime 0.
BARAKO BULL 95—Pennisi 19, Miller 17, Allado 14, Salvador 13, Arboleda 10, Najorda 8, Tubid 7, Johnson 3, Lanete 2, Pena 2.
Quarters: 27-22; 43-50; 68-71; 99-95