E-Painters seal title duel with Mixers

Rain or Shine import Arizona Reid (left) drives past the defense of Alaska import Henry Walker. EDWIN BELLOSILLO

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao believes that there’s destiny and history to be fulfilled by the Elasto Painters in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals that starts on Tuesday.

After surviving a stubborn stand from a badly decimated Alaska crew last night with a 97-94 Game 5 win in their Final Four series at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Guiao declared that his Painters are not interested in the part of history that his title series foes will be chasing.

“We’re not going to try to stop the history of San Mig, we just want to make our own history,” Guiao said after the high-wire win that sealed another best-of-five clash with the defending champion Mixers.

“Maybe it’s our destiny (to be in the Finals against the Mixers),” Guiao added. “Hindi naman namin kasalanan (it’s not our fault that some of their players failed to suit up for the rubber match).”

The Painters closed out the series by winning the last two games, counting a 123-121 overtime thriller on Thursday when JV Casio slipped to lose possession while going for the lead on a solo layup in the dying seconds.

That freak accident cost Casio the chance to play as he injured his leg. The Aces also missed Gabby Espinas because of a fractured right ankle in Game 4, and Sonny Thoss, who had back spasms.

The trio formed part of the Aces’ starting crew for most of the season, but Alaska played with a lot of fight and almost pulled this one out.

“Sometimes, we don’t deserve to be here, but if something’s for you, sa ’yo yan (it’s yours),” he said humbly.

Arizona Reid scored 33 points in the first three periods and tossed in his only basket in the fourth period with 1:02 left for some buffer, 93-89, before Paul Lee came up with the hatchet job by shooting the Painters’ final four points.

Lee sank two pressure-packed charities with 12.7 seconds remaining after regaining a Reid fumble at midcourt, and the Painters then watched Henry Walker miss the potential game-tying three as time expired.

Guiao later gave Walker a tight hug at midcourt after the smoke of the battle cleared, and paid tribute to the grit of the NBA veteran.

“You have to respect his effort, respect what he has done,” Guiao said of Walker, who was fined P30,000 after being thrown out in the fourth quarter for elbowing Lee at the back of the head in Game 4.

The physical play saw third-string Alaska point guard Raffy Reyes getting tossed out early in the second period after busting Chris Tiu’s lip for a technical and impeding the landing of Jonathan Uyloan for a flagrant foul 1.

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 97—Reid 35, Lee 10, Norwood 10, Uyloan 8, Rodriguez 8, Arana 5, Chan 5, Belga 4, Almazan 4, Cruz 3, Tiu 3, Ibanes 2, Teng 0.

ALASKA 94—Walker 29, Manuel 20, Hontiveros 17, Baguio 11, Abueva 9, Dela Cruz 5, Jazul 3, Reyes 0, Belasco 0, Eman 0.

Quarters: 29-25, 55-52, 80-77, 97-94