Arizona Reid scored 30 points and plucked down 20 rebounds as the Painters led all the way in a 96-81 conquest of league-leading Talk ‘N Text at the Araneta Coliseum.
“The players simply played their hearts out because we can’t lose any more games,” said Caloy Garcia, who called the shots in lieu of Yeng Guiao, who served out a one-game suspension for confronting league officials in a one-point loss to B-Meg last week.
Rain or Shine has three games left in its schedule, and at 5-5, needs to win them all to avail of the semifinal incentive that grants a team winning four of five games to challenge the No. 2 squad for the second Finals seat.
The loss was just the third in 10 games for the Grand Slam-seeking Tropang Texters, who stayed in the lead nonetheless and within two more wins of nailing the No. 1 spot.
Import Scottie Reynolds had 18 points and 11 boards for the Texters, who got only Ryan Reyes as the last player in twin digits in scoring with 15 points.
Talk ‘N Text played so bad that the Texters never really threatened from the second quarter on.
Reid hit a triple at the 4:15 mark of the third period to open up a 69-43 lead for the Painters, their biggest for the night, then cruised the rest of the way.
Rain or Shine has Petron, Alaska and Barangay Ginebra as its closing foes.
Jeff Chan hit 12 points, Jervy Cruz, the former UAAP MVP with Santo Tomas, TY Tang and Ronjay Buenafe all scattered 10 each and Gabe Norwood, the former Rookie of the Year, had 12 rebounds that made up for a pathetic offensive night of three points.
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 96—Reid 30, Chan 12, Cruz 10, Tang 10, Buenafe 10, Arana 9, Belga 6, Norwood 3, Rodriguez 3, Ibanes 3, Vanlandingham 0, Jazul 0, Matias 0, Ferriols 0.
TALK ‘N TEXT 81—Reynolds 18, Reyes 15, Carey 9, Yee 8, Williams 8, Peek 6, Alapag 5, Oreta 4, Castro 3, Dillinger 2, Fonacier 2, Alvarez 1, Aban 0, Lao 0.
Quarters: 28-20, 53-37, 75-55, 96-81