PBA: Rain or Shine knocks NorthPort from top spot with big win

Rain or Shine ElastoPainters against NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. –PBA IMAGES

Rain or Shine dislodged NorthPort out of the top spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup after snapping a two-game skid with a convincing 127-107 victory Thursday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Seven players scored in double figures for the Elasto Painters after a torrid first half shooting even as they made the Batang Pier’s main men Arvin Tolentino and Joshua Munzon almost non-existent to get themselves back on winning track.

The Elasto Painters forged a logjam at the middle of the standings with Hong Kong Eastern, Meralco Bolts and Barangay Ginebra after improving to 6-3 following sorry defeats at the hands of the Phoenix Fuel Masters and Converge FiberXers.

Rain or Shine import Deon Thompson during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game. –PBA IMAGES

NorthPort dropped its second straight to fall into a tie for second with idle Converge at 7-3.

Import Deon Thompson had 27 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks for Rain or Shine, which led from start to finish.

Adrian Nocum and Santi Santillan scored 16 points apiece, the latter posting nine in the opening period while Anton Asistio dropped 10 of his 12 in the second that was also key in the Elasto Painters’ triumph.

Rain or Shine didn’t get significant threat from NorthPort, which closest was at 11 in the third period before the lead ballooned anew.

Tolentino and Munzon combined for only nine in the first half which also contributed to the Batang Pier’s woes. Tolentino wound up with 19 and Munzon got 17.

Batang Pier reinforcement Kadeem Jack finished with 39 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in the loss.