MANILA – Rain or Shine made it two in a row, pounding a one-sided 109-97 victory against Talk ‘N Text Sunday night to take a 2- 1 lead in the best-of-seven championship round of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Import Wayne Chism spearheaded the Elasto Painters with 32 points and 15 rebounds while Paul Lee came off the bench to finish 17 points and Jayvee Cruz and Jeff Chan drilled in 14 and 12 markers , respectively.
”We played fantastic defense tonight. We can attribute win to our team effort on defense. Lee lost a tooth but we won the game. Series is getting physical. We just want consistency with the calls. I hope referees don’t get it out of hand,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said.
Guiao also commended his import for outplaying TNT’s Ivan Johnson who was fined P150,000 for bumping the Rain or Shine coach in Game One where the Elasto Painters lost, 99-92.
”Chism showed his class. He outplayed Johnson tonight. Chism played probably his best game all around that was a big help,” Guiao said.
Johnson scored 30 points and had 14 rebounds while Jayson Castro cashed in 20 points and Larry Fonacier and Ranidel de Ocampo scored 16 each for the Tropang Texters.
”We just gave them too many points. We scored enough to win a game but we gave up a lot of points. It’s not a race to 3, it’s a race to four. You just have to get the job done,” TNT mentor Jong Uichico said.
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE109 – Chism 32, Lee 17, Cruz Jericho 14, Chan 12, Quinahan 9, Norwood 6, Tiu 6, Belga 6, Almazan 4, Cruz Jervy 2, Tang 1, Ibanes 0, Arana 0.
TALK N’ TEXT 97 – Johnson 30, Castro 20, Fonacier 16, De Ocampo 16, Alas 8, Rosser 5, Washington 2, Carey 0, Williams 0, Aban 0.
Quarters: 32-26, 52-45, 84-65, 109-97.