PBA: Rain or Shine boosts playoff bid with rout of Blackwater
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MANILA, Philippines—Rain or Shine shored up its bid for a playoff spot on Friday after keeping a shorthanded Blackwater at bay, 116-97 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Rey Nambatac scattered 21 points to help the club to a 5-6 win-loss record which is good for joint seventh in the race with Phoenix Super LPG.
“I know Rey’s role in this team, and it’s important for him to get his rhythm. It’s important that he gets to build his confidence,” said coach Yeng Guiao.
“So every game, I just try to give him the chance to get his rhythm back,” he added. “And it’s nice that he’s getting it back. We need it against Magnolia.”
Import Ryan Person had 22 points to lead the scoring charge while adding 12 rebounds to his name to finally assert himself for Rain or Shine, which also arrested a two-game slump.
Anton Asistio and Norbert Torres both chipped in 13 points for Rain or Shine, which clearly enjoyed the benefits of a long rest having played last Nov. 13 in a loss to Converge.
Cameron Krutwig had 23 points and 17 rebounds, while Jollo Go added 18 more to pace the locals. But with Baser Amer and JVee Casio on sickbay, the Bossing absorbed their sixth straight loss and dropped to 3-9 to end their Commissioner’s Cup.
It could be recalled that Blackwater finally made the playoffs after being the league’s whipping boys for quite some time and setting the league record for the longest losing streak ever with 29 games.
Rain or Shine’s triumph also narrows the window for 4-7 TNT, which will now figure in a must-win against 5-5 San Miguel Beer this Saturday.
