Cabatu helps Painters take solo lead

Rain or Shine dominated Hapee Toothpaste-PCU at the paint as it carved out a 66-48 victory yesterday to seize the solo lead in the PBL Unity Cup at the San Andres Gym.

Jun Jun Cabatu, one of the three amateur players the franchise is expected to automatically elevate in the PBA this September, scored a game-high 18 points – half of which coming from behind the arc — and collared eight rebounds to lead the Elasto Painters to their third win in as many games in the tourney.

"We know we’re taller and we made good use of it," said Rain or Shine coach Leo Austria.

The Elasto Painters imposed their strength underneath the basket, hauling down 48 rebounds as against their rivals’ 37.

Marvin Ortiguerra, Jar-R Reyes and 6-foot-10 slotman Samigue Eman accounted for most of the team’s rebounds while also logging two blocks each in their dominating job at the paint.

"Giving Jason Castro a hard time to get his points was another factor," said Austria of excellent defensive job on the Hapee ace scorer whom they limited to six points below his average of 23 a game.

Ex-pro Gilbert Malabanan led the attack for Rain or Shine early on before Cabatu took over.

Largely behind the efforts of Malabanan, the Elasto Painters took a 20-12 lead at the close of the opening quarter.

In the other game, Toyota Otis edged Harbour Centre, 76-74, to move up to solo third place with a 2-1 (win-loss) slate.

It was the Port Masters’ third straight loss.