Painters rally to even series

IN A SHOW of offensive might, Rain or Shine import Wendell McKines (right) finishes with 53 points. San Miguel Beer’s Marcio Lassiter, meanwhile, fired 10 triples. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

RAIN OR SHINE played out what coach Yeng Guiao said was an end-game script only God could write and mounted a comeback that the outspoken mentor described as the greatest he has ever been a part of.

Looking like goners after trailing by 20 points in the third period, the Elasto Painters roared to life for a 113-110 victory over San Miguel Beer that squared their best-of-five Final Four series in the PBA Governors’ Cup after two games at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I’ve been coaching a long time in this league and this is probably one of the most amazing comebacks, most amazing games I’ve ever coached,” Guiao told reporters. “This is a God-given game.”

Jeff Chan was the hero of the script, rifling in what turned out to be the game-winning three-pointer in transition with 7.6 seconds remaining as the Painters completed their rise from 76-56 down with six minutes left in the third period.

“Only God can put up a script like this, write a story this way,” Guiao went on.

Guiao said that this was the greatest comeback he ever coached, and it came as a redemption of sorts when he and his Painters also bungled a great lead—24 points—in the first half on Thursday night that had the Beermen drawing first blood, 101-95.

Wendell McKines, the import who was so mediocre early in the tournament that he needed to prove himself in Dubai, carried the Painters on his broad shoulders and spearheaded the Rain or Shine fightback, finishing with a career-high 53 points and all the plays that mattered in the stretch.

With the score tied at 110 and the Beermen having possession going into the final 25.1, McKines forced a turnover, with Jireh Ibanes finding Chan in the break for that cold-blooded game-winner.

The loss will be very bitter for the Beermen to swallow, more so for Marcio Lassiter, who fired 10 triples on the way to a career-best 31 points.

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 113—McKines 53, Quiñahan 11, Ibañes 10, Norwood 9, Lee 8, Chan 6, Araña 6, Tiu 5, Uyloan 3, Almazan 2, Cruz  0.

SAN MIGUEL 110—Reid 33, Lassiter 31, Fajardo 15, Santos 11, Ross 7, Tubid 5, Cabagnot 4, Lutz 2, De Ocampo 2, Espinas 0.

Quarters: 26-26, 48-53, 77-89, 113-110