Javee Mocon leads Rain or Shine. PBA IMAGES
Reaping the fruits of good preparation—and a burgeoning defensive culture, Rain or Shine on Saturday kept its record clean in the PBA Philippine Cup after an 85-72 triumph over Meralco that meant the solo lead for the Elasto Painters at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Painters battled back from a tentative start with the rugged Beau Belga leading them, and then turned to balanced scoring spearheaded by Javee Mocon from there to take down a Bolts side fresh from back-to-back wins.
“Our expectations were just like any other team’s—extremely high. It just really came down to preparation and the commitment that the players had in that preparation,” said coach Chris Gavina.
“As the great Bobby Knight said, the most prepared teams are the hardest-working teams. That coincides with who we are,” he added.
Mocon led the way with 18 points, while Belga posted a double-double of 17 and 10 rebounds to send Meralco to its first loss in three games.
Finally, a win
With its main man down with a sprained ankle later in the night, the Phoenix Fuel Masters turned to its new star—and the former star of their foe—Vic Manuel, to hold off Alaska, 101-93, that snapped an 0-2 start.
Manuel dropped 26 points and had 12 boards—both team-highs— in heeding coach Topex Robinson’s plea just hours before the game.
“Coach told me to take charge for now. My confidence is high because of his trust, the coaching staff’s trust, and my teammates’ trust in me,” he said in Filipino.
“As long as you believe in your players that they’re going to make them, you have to keep on encouraging them,” said Robinson, whose charges trailed by as many as eight points in the opening frame before breaking the game wide open with leads of as large as 23 in the third.
RJ Jazul chipped in with 19 points built around four triples with rookie Aljun Melecio tossing in 13 more for Phoenix, which also missed crafty playmaker Chris Banchero.
“If you begin to doubt [your players], that’s going to be their downfall. So, just believe in them that they’re going to make it,” said the eloquent Robinson, who inherited the job from Louie Alas just days before the last year’s Philippine Cup.
Alaska got the goods from Gab Banal who finished with 17 points. Abu Tratter added 16 points while Robbie Herndon had 13, including tough baskets down the stretch that still failed to save the Aces from dropping to 1-2.
Turnover points
Outrebounded, Rain or Shined turned to its pesky defense to corner Meralco to 21 errors, which the Painters converted to 23 points.
Saturday was also the third time Rain or Shine held a team to under 40 percent shooting from the field.
“I’m really grateful that our best players—Beau, Gabe (Norwood) Javee, Rey (Nambatac)—they set the standard from Day 1. I’ve said it before, I might be repeating myself again about when your best players are your hardest workers, your culture gets set organically,” said Gavina.
“I guess it’s just us buying in on our chemistry, the culture that we’re building,” said Belga. “Everybody’s into it. I guess that’s the secret: We’re all into it.”
Meralco drew 13 points from Chris Newsome and 10 from Raymond Almazan, but just four from Mac Belo, who just recently had a career game against NorthPort.
Rain or Shine shoots for win No. 4 against Alaska on Wednesday, followed by Meralco’s bid for a rebound win against resurgent Phoenix.