PBA IMAGES by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines—Jeff Chan posted a career-best in offense but it was his final two points which helped Rain or Shine clinch a 99-98 win past Air21 in overtime Friday in the 2012 PBA Philippine Cup.
Chan sliced through the defense and scored a go-ahead bucket with 15.0 seconds left in OT which capped a brilliant performance of 35 points, missing just three of 14 shots all game.
“We’re just lucky we got out of that situation and was able to salvage a win,” said head coach Yeng Guiao.
The Elastopainters missed a chance to seal the win in regulation, holding on to a four point cushion down the stretch but still allowed the Express to send the game into overtime.
After taking charge in the fourth period, Chan once again delivered when Rain or Shine, who went to the line 51 times, needed it most.
“Chan’s offense for most of the part carried us through this game,” said Guiao, who recently lost his loyal assistant coach Roel Nadurata to cancer.
“I’m sure he’s happy to see us win,” Guiao added.
John Wilson also posted a career-high, but on a losing cause for the Express, with 21 markers built around four treys—all made in the fourth period.
But it was Niño Cañaleta who played savior for Air21 as he nailed a game-tying trey at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
He, once again, got a chance to win it for the Express after he got the rebound off a miss by Winnie Arboleda in OT but lost the ball as the time expired.
The Elastopainters go up 2-1 while the Express, who’s been in a more formidable form compared to last year, slides down to 1-2 early in the conference.