Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs Meralco Bolts

MANILA, Philippines - Minus their head coach in the final half, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters took it upon themselves that they needed to win this game, and they did to close in on a first-ever PBA finals appearance at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The Elasto Painters regrouped in the payoff period after they slowed down in the middle quarters, clobbering the Meralco Bolts, 99-86, to fortify their bid for the PBA Governors Finals.

Ronjay Buenafe, Paul Lee and Beau Belga combined for 5-of-7 three-point shooting in the final canto as the Elasto Painters showed the Meralco Bolts the door in the season-ending tourney.

While Rain or Shine firmed up its hold of the lead with a 9-2 win-loss card, Meralco was buried deeper down the cellar at 4-7. The Bolts are now also out of contention for the “4-of-5 incentive rule” in the semis.“This team is used to winning without me. There’s nothing unusual in this game,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, ejected from the game with 2.9 seconds left in first half for showering referee Reymund Maurillo invectives in protest of a non-call.

Later, Guiao insisted Maurillo “missed the obvious foul,” and said he’s joining call for the league commissioner to protect the league from bad officiating.

“What happened awhile ago happened right in front of the referee. He’s three feet away from the action. An obvious foul was not called. If that’s not a foul, I don’t know what,” said Guiao.

“In view of all the things that had happened, I think we need to tighten up on the competence of the refs in terms of officiating,” Guiao added 

The Elasto Painters had lost an early 13-point lead, nursing a one-point edge when Guiao lost his temper, throwing invectives right on Maurillo’s face.

The Bolts made a run in the third quarter and surged ahead, 71-68, but couldn’t sustain the momentum in the face of the Elasto Painters’ resurgence in the final period.

Belga, Buenafe and Lee hit their clutch three-pointers to highlight Rain or Shine’s reawakening in the last quarter.

As Buenafe made a second trey in the quarter, the Elasto Painters reestablished a double-digit lead at 89-78 with 4:38 left to play.

And there was no stopping the Elasto Painters.

Jamelle Cornley had a solid second half and he led the team with 21 points, 14 rebounds and four assists.

Lee, Buenafe and Belga combined for 19 points in the fourth quarter and a total of 34 markers.

NOTES: Outside of Philippine Cup best player Gary David and Fiesta Conference MVP Mark Caguioa, Arwind Santos, James Yap and Jason Castro are three others who may become official contenders for the season’s MVP award. David and Caguioa have automatically become season MVP contenders for being BPC winners in the first two conferences. Santos, Yap and Castro are in contention being in the the top five -- along with David and Caguioa – in the stats race through the end of the Governors Cup elimination round. David leads the stats race with an average of 34.0 points a game, followed by Santos (31.7), Yap (29.0), Castro (28.8) and Caguioa (28.0). Just outside the top five are Willie Miller (26.7), Alex Cabagnot (26.76), LA Tenorio (26.3), Paul Lee (25.8) and Sonny Thoss (25.3)……. In close fight for the Rookie of the Year award are Paul Lee and Jayvee Casio with 25.8 and 24.1 stats points an outing, respectively.