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THE Rain or Shine Elasto Painters ended a three-game losing streak with an 82-71 beating of Blackwater Elite on Sunday at the PBA Season 45 Philippines Cup at the University of University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center. Angels in Angeles, Pampanga.
Rain or Shine staged a 25-11 blitz in the third stanza and went on to control the pay period to improve their win-loss record to 5-4, keeping alive their hopes of snapping the elusive top-four spot that they carry. I get a two-goal lead in the quarterfinals.
Javee Mocon finished with a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Elasto Painters, a far cry from their listless past games.
“Na-injure si Rey (Rey [Nambatac] he was injured) and we needed the spark and everyone had to step up. This game was really crucial for us to reach the quarterfinals, ”Mocon said at a post-game press conference.
The Elasto Painters had a scare when Nambatac landed on elite forward KG Canaleta resulting in a heavy knockdown in the second quarter. The 5’11 guard Nambatac did not return to the game.
“I think it’s due to hesitation [in the previous games]. I told him to keep it simple, ”coach Caloy Garcia said of Mocon.
Beau Belga contributed 14 points for the Elasto Painters.
The Elite have yet to win in their last six games with a 2-7 record.
Blackwater dominated the first half but slowed down in the second half and finally lost steam in the third inning where they only scored 11 points. Mac Belo scored 15 markers, while Canaleta and Roy Sumang had 11 points each.
Rain or Shine will play TNT Tropang Giga on Tuesday and Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters on Wednesday for their final two games in round robin elimination.
The Elite, meanwhile, will immediately return to action on Monday against the Fuel Masters (6-3) at 1pm.
Matthew Wright and Calvin Abueva will set the pace for Fuel Masters seeking a top 4 spot. Wright, so far, has a scoring average of 24.8, good for second place in the Philippine Cup.
Abueva has been spectacular since his return from indefinite suspension, averaging a double-double of 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds in his first four games for the Fuel Masters.
The other games on Monday will feature the Alaska Aces (6-4) against the NLEX Road Warriors (4-5) at 4 pm and the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings against the Terrafirma Dyip at 6:45 pm
As of press time, the Gin Kings are playing the San Miguel Beermen, while the Dyip are fighting the Meralco Bolts.
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