Rain or Shine bounces back, snaps Air21’s 3-game win streak

MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine pounced on an errant Air21, to win 71-62, Saturday in Tubod, Lanao Del Sur to move just a game behind from the top two in the 2012 PBA Philippine Cup.

The Elastopainters rebounded from a wake-up loss to Petron last week and control the tempo against the Express all game to pick up their seventh victory.

Rain or Shine (7-3) is at third behind San Mig Coffee (7-2) and and leader Talk N’ Text (8-2).

Rain or Shine exploited an offensive slump by the Express to start the fourth quarter to push the gap again to double-digits and remain in a safe distance until the end.

From just a 50-49 lead in the four-minute mark of the third, the Elastopainters clamped down on defense — which coach Yeng Guiao really wanted his squad to do.

“We expected a hard game, so we just played a lot better defense today than we did against Petron. We resolved to bring back our defensive intensity for this game,” said Guiao.

After losing a double-digit lead in a snap, Rain or Shine doused the intensity of Air 21 and held them scoreless for atleast eight minutes bridging the third and fourth quarters.

Jeff Chan, despite not getting his rythm from beyond the arch, led with 15 points but it was Larry Rodriguez intensity which also stood out.

Rodriguez chipped in eight points, plucked just as many rebounds and registered four blocks for Rain or Shine.

While Rain or Shine slowly makes its way to the top, a streaking Air 21 hit a wall as it saw its three-win streak snapped.

Nino Canaleta scored a game-best 18 points in a low scoring affair while Mark Isip, who inched the Express closer in the third, added 12 points.

For more details on the game click to https://sports.inquirer.net/71636/rain-or-shine-trips-air21

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 71 – Chan 15, Belga 10, Cruz 10, Norwood 9, Rodriguez 8, Quinahan 5, Arana 4, Jaime 3, Matias 3, Ibanes 2, Tang 2, Uyloan 0.

AIR21 62 – Canaleta 18, Isip 12, Cortez 11, Wilson 6, Custodio 6, Baclao 4, Sena 2, Ritualo 2, Reyes 1, Omolon 0, Arboleda 0.

Quarters: 21-15, 38-30, 54-49, 71-62