E-Painters squeeze past B Pier

MANILA, Philippines - There’s something that makes Ryan Araña tick versus Globalport. It’s his former team.

Araña was at it again as he came off the bench late in the game to give  the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters the lift they needed to bundle out the Batang Pier, 108-106, and the ticket to the PBA Governors Cup Final Four at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Tapped  to substitute for the injury-hit Paul Lee late in the third quarter, Araña rose to the challenge, tossing in 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter as the E-Painters lived up to their billing as the third seeds and gained the second berth in the best-of-five semifinals.

Jervy Cruz also stepped up in a relief job while Gabe Norwood delivered a big three-pointer at the finish as the E-Painters somehow redeemed themselves from their sorry exit in the last Commissioner’s Cup.

“The memory of last conference is still fresh in our mind. The thought of having lost last conference a twice-to-beat advantage bothered us. It’s a relief we’re able to grind it out against a team that’s getting better,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“We survived a bad free-throw shooting night. We missed 16 free throws but the important thing was we made big shots when we needed to. Ryan (Araña) gave us so many big shots,” Guiao also said.

“Noong second half, nanlalamig na ako sa bench. Pero syempre tiwala pa rin ako kay coach (I was getting cold on the bench in the second half but I kept my faith in coach),” said Araña, who went 4-of-7 from the field and 3-of-5 from the stripe in the payoff period.

A former Batang Pier during his amateur days, Araña also played big in their elimination-round tussle with his former team, collecting 21 points, four rebounds and two assists to lead Rain or Shine to a 94-74 rout.

“A big break was coach Junel (Baculi) being ejected. It’s like déjà vu, but it’s the other way around. Mabuti mas nauna siyang na-eject (It’s good he’s the first to get ejected),” said Guiao.

Baculi was tossed out of the game on a second technical foul with 2:08 left in the third period when Rain or Shine rallied to within one, 73-74, from 57-69 down.

The E-Painters surged ahead, 93-89, midway through the fourth and sustained the run.

Top seed and 2011 titleholder Petron Blaze set up a semis showdown with reigning champion Rain or Shine as the Boosters knocked out the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 101-94, later in the night.

Things became a lot easier for the Boosters as Ginebra leader and top gun Mark Caguioa went down with a suspected MCL injury just 14 minutes into the contest.

An exciting side plot in the Petron-RoS series will be the coaching duel between coach Yeng Guiao and protégé Gie Abanilla.