Painters trip Bolts in physical game

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3 p.m. – Barako Bull vs Kia

5:15 p.m. – San Miguel vs Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines - Rain or Shine ripped Meralco Bolts to shreds, 107-79, in a fight-marred out–of- town game in the PBA Philippine Cup yesterday at University of Southeastern Philippines Gym in Davao City.

Bucking the ejection of coach Yeng Guiao in the second period, the Elasto Painters came out with more fire in their eyes as they stormed to a 51-38 cushion and never eased up the rest of the way en route to a 5-2 card.

Guiao was slapped two technical in succession for “use of profane language” as he complained to the referees but his absence seemed to have further fired up the Painters, who led by as many as 33 points.

Paul Lee rifled in 20 points, leading a lethal 15-5 assault that enabled RoS to pull away for good, along with 10 assists and three steals.

The rugged game came to a head in the fourth when big men John Ferriols of Meralco and Raymund Almazan of RoS engaged in a scuffle after a rebound play.

Players eventually separated the two before the incident escalated.

Ferriols was meted a flagrant foul 1 while Almazan was issued a technical.

The physicality of the game also saw Beau Belga losing a tooth during a rebound battle in the first half and Gary David suffering a bloodied nose.

The victory pushed RoS to half a game behind second-running Ginebra (5-1), boosting their shot at an automatic semis berth.

In contrast, Meralco fell to 3-3 and into a tie for sixth with idle Globalport.

Meanwhile, college rivals Greg Slaughter and June Mar Fajardo rekindle their old war today when their respective teams, Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer, clash at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Slaughter and the Kings gun for their sixth win in seven outings while third-running Beermen (4-1) seek their fifth in the 5:15 p.m. duel.