Rain or Shine blows out San Mig Coffee in Bowles’ return

Paul Lee vs Mark Barroca. PBA IMAGES / Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine scored at will in transition en route to a 93-65 blow-out of a victory over San Mig Coffee Friday in the 2013 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

The Elastopainters repeatedly exploited the Mixers’ slow return to the defense, which paved way for easy layups and gimmes and the commanding lead midway the third quarter.

What was just a five-point lead at halftime stretched to 66-44 on a fastbreak basket by Ryan Araña with just a minute left in the third quarter.

A bucket from Ronnie Matias off a sidestep move made it 92-59 lead, the biggest of the game, against the hapless defending champions.

“San Mig Coffee was off tonight. [Denzel] Bowles was still out of shape,” said head coach Yeng Guiao.

But even with just 18 seconds left, Guiao still stormed to the middle of the court fuming mad at the game officials about a non-call.

“I dont think the score matters, the referees just have to do their jobs. There were two fouls the refs didnt call,” said Guiao after the game.

But that didn’t even had an effect on the results as Rain or Shine notched their second win in three games.

Jervy Cruz led all scorers in the import-laden game with 16 points and six rebounds while Bruno Sundov added 14 for the Elastopainters.

The winless Mixers, meanwhile, looked rough even in Bowles’ return to the squad as he struggled with just 12 points. Rookie Alex Mallari led with 15 points.

San Mig Coffee’s title defense is not off to a good start as it absorbed its third setback, joining Barangay Ginebra at the bottom with an identical 0-3 record.

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 93 – Cruz 16, Tiu 15, Sundov 14, Rodriguez 10, Ibanes 6, Lee 5, Matias 5, Norwood 5, Tang 4, Belga 4, Quinahan 4, Arana 3, Uyloan 2, Jaime 0.

SANMIG COFFEE 65  – Mallari 15, Yap 13, Bowles 12, Gonzales 8, Devance 4, Simon 4, Najorda 2, Pingris 2, Reavis 2, De Ocampo 2, Alvarez 1, Ponferada 0, Barroca 0, Pacana 0.

Quarters: 17-17, 36-31, 66-45, 93-65

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