E-Painters finally reign, shine

MANILA, Philippines – It was a long six-year wait but Rain or Shine did deliver in the end.

It bucked mounting pressure and sizzled from the quartercourt with a record-tying 15 three-pointers in PBA finals as the Elasto Painters blew out the Alaska Milk Aces, 109-92, to eventually bag the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Paul Lee went 4-of-5 triples, Jericho Cruz frolicked with 3-of-5 treys and all the ROS gunners hit at an amazing 56-percent clip from beyond the arc to finally close out the best-of-seven championship series and claim a second title following the franchise’s first title run in the 2012 Governors Cup.

Regaining the shooting touch they lost in the last two games, the E-Painters ripped apart the Aces and snapped a string of four runner-up finishes.

“I was about to give up, thinking we might not really be able to beat Alaska. They’re a great organization and we’re not really thinking that we can sweep them. It’s a tribute to the guys, we won in the end,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“It took a little while pero natapos rin. We beat a good team, the team of the future. They say the true measure of success is what kind of opponent you beat. It gives more value to this championship,” Guiao also said.

“We are not the most talented, but we’re the most consistent. In being consistent, time will come matitisod mo rin ang championship. We did in this conference, and it gives us much satisfaction,” added Guiao on his second championship with ROS and seventh overall.

Guiao caught up with Tim Cone as the winningest coach in the Commissioner’s Cup with four crowns and tied Chot Reyes’ mark as a coach with at least two titles each won with three different teams. Guiao also delivered crowns to Swift Mighty Meaty and Red Bull.

Hitting from almost all angles and anywhere, the E-Painters dominated the Aces in their title-clinching win.

Early on, the E-Painters roared to a 3-0 series lead with a 105-97 win in Game One, a 105-103 triumph in Game Two and a 112-108 victory in Game Three.

Then came Alaska’s fightback in Games Four and Five, delaying Rain or Shine’s coronation as champion.

Cruz rifled in 21 points, Lee pumped in 20 while big men Raymond Almazan and JR Quiñahan combined for 29 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the E-Painters finally had the championship balloons and confetti falling from the Big Dome rafters.

Lee touched off the E-Painters’ early breakaway on four consecutive three-point bombs, finished with 20 points and emerged the hands-down choice as the Cignal Finals MVP winner.

Though falling behind by 23 in the second half, the Aces refused to give up the fight, but there’s no stopping the E-Painters from winning the series.

Alaska owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu was gracious in defeat, approaching Rain or Shine co-owners Raymond Yu and Terry Que and extending a congratulatory handshake with Lee at the stripe and about to stretch ROS’s 103-88 lead with time down to 1:22.

Moments later, Alaska coach Alex Compton also went over to Guiao, tipping his hats off to the champion coach.The Aces were vanquished in four straight finals.

Rain or Shine sat on a 59-49 lead at the turn on an explosive first half spiked by Lee’s 17 points on a perfect shooting – 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.