PBA: Rain or Shine wins back to back, piles on Meralco woes

Rain or Shine Elastopainters’ Santi Santillan during a PBA Philippine Cup game against Meralco Bolts. –PBA IMAGES

ANTIPOLO—Rain or Shine cruised to back-to-back wins after a tough start to its PBA Philippine Cup campaign by extending the woes of skidding Meralco, 128-116, on Sunday at Ynares Center here.

Santi Santillan, Gian Mamuyac and Adrian Nocum led the scoring charge even as veteran Gabe Norwood provided a lift in a rare heavy exposure as the Elasto Painters handed the defending champion Bolts their third straight defeat.

Santillan had 27 points and seven rebounds, Mamuyac dropped 24 and Nocum scored 15 of his 23 in the fourth quarter for Rain or Shine, which led by a high of 27.

Norwood, on the other hand, added 12 points and seven rebounds in 38 minutes, stepping up when needed after rookie Caelan Tiongson didn’t see action due to back spasms.

Rain or Shine Elastopainters’ Gabe Norwood during a PBA Philippine Cup game against Meralco Bolts. –PBA IMAGES

Rain or Shine was already missing Beau Belga and Keith Datu prior to the contest.

The victory was the second straight for Rain or Shine after opening the conference with a loss to NLEX.

Meralco, meanwhile, slipped to 2-3 after a rough showing that compounded its struggles after a promising start of two straight victories to kick off its title defense.

The Bolts tried to mount a massive comeback in the fourth, even without Chris Newsome who had to sit out the remainder of the contest due to cramps, but they could only get as close as 12.

Bong Quinto scored 23 points while rookie CJ Cansino and Toto Jose added 21 apiece for the Bolts, who now enter the back end of the standings.

Meralco actually goes on a long break before facing NorthPort on May 9 at Philsports Arena where it will try to turn things around and end the skid.

Rain or Shine, on the other hand, won’t have much time to savor the win as it next plays Converge on Wednesday, also at Philsports.