Rain or Shine spills Alaska, gains first win

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3 p.m. – Talk n Text vs Barako Bull

5:15 p.m. – Ginebra vs San Mig Coffee

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Cup losing finalist Rain or Shine, behind Jeff Chan’s clutch three-point shooting in the fourth quarter, fended off Alaska Milk, 92-78, for its first win in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Chan knocked in four of his six treys in the payoff period as the Elasto Painters quashed the Aces’ rally from an 18-point deficit and thus broke into the win-column after a losing tournament debut against the Barako Bull Energy Cola Sunday.

The Aces had just come to within four, 68-72, when Chan unloaded his three-point missiles to personally ward off Alaska in this Petron Blaze-sponsored PBA Saturday Special.

The E-Painters handed the Aces a third loss against a lone win.

“We played a little better today than last time. We played a lot better defense. Our chemistry is back. The cohesion is back. It’s just a matter of getting our focus this conference,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“We got ourselves into the game mentally early. Jeff picked up in the third and fourth, and gave us some cushion,” Guiao also said.

Chan, among the gunners in the Gilas Pilipinas pool, went 6-of-10 from beyond the arc in the game and finished with a team-high 24 points.

From 74-70, the former FEU stalwart strung up three straight triples then import Alex McLean canned in two charities as the E-Painters reestablished a commanding spread at 85-72.

With better shooting and with fewer turnovers, the E-Painters overcame the Aces’ 62-48 domination in the rebounds department.

“Our import is struggling a little bit but he will learn the ropes and adjust to the situation in time. He’s a solid, fundamental, sound player. Not athletic, but we can survive if he scores in the 20s and rebounds well,” said Guiao.

Sweet-shooting 6-foot-11 import Brian Butch also delivered big treys as Meralco survived Globalport’s endgame fightback, squeezing out a 104-99 win in the nightcap.

Butch fired six treys, the last shattering a 97-all deadlock with 46.4 seconds to go.

Meralco caught up with Air21 and San Miguel Beer at 2-1 while Globalport went down with a fourth straight defeat.