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PBA: Elasto Painters nail breakthrough win in Dubai

February 24, 2012 3:55pm
Rain or Shine's Beau Belga (left) and Ryan Araña double team Barako Bull's Willie Miller in their PBA Commissioner's Cup game in Dubai. GMA News
Rain or Shine capitalized on Barako Bull import DerMarr Johnson's absence as the Elasto Painters used a strong defensive effort down the stretch to beat the Energy, 99-95, in a PBA Commissioner's Cup overseas game Thursday night (early Friday morning in Manila) at the Alshabab Club in Dubai.

Duke Crews scattered 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Rain or Shine as the 6-foot-7 former Bowie State Bulldog outplayed the Barako locals, who tried to fill the void left by Johnson.

Johnson left the game, with still five minutes and 14 seconds left in the second quarter, obviously in pain after hurting his groin while fighting off a pick. The 31-year-old did not return after that and finished with just three points.

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said Johnson's absence helped the Painters clinch a breakthrough win after a 0-2 start in the import-laced conference.

"Malaking break yung nawala ang import nila. I think that’s the whole story in this game," said Guiao, who added the victory will boost his team's confidence when they take on crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra on Friday in the second of Rain or Shine's back-to-back games in the largest city of this oil-rich country.

"The worse way to play against Barangay Ginebra is to come from a loss," Guiao said.

Rain or Shine, which trailed for most part of the game, turned the game around behind Jeff Chan and Beau Belga's successive three-pointers in the fourth quarter. The Painters went on a 9-2 run in a 90-second span midway in the final period.

Barako, which enjoyed an 11-point lead late in the second period, dropped its third straight game after opening the Commissioner's Cup with a 98-78 rout of Alaska.

Belga led all local scorers with 20 points while Chan finished with 12 markers. ROS rookie Paul Lee struggled in the first three quarters but came alive in the fourth, scoring nine of his 14 points including two free throws that the Painters a 98-92 edge in the final 76 seconds of the match.

Mick Pennisi led Barako's losing cause with 19 points while Willie Miller scored 17. Don Allado, Jondan Salvador and Wynne Arboleda chipped in 14, 13 and 10 markers. — JVP, GMA News

Scores: 
Rain or Shine 99—Crews 27, Belga 20, Lee 13, Chan 12, Arana 9, Buenafe 9, Quinahan 2, Matias 2, Cruz 2, Ibanez 2, Norwood 1, Jaime 0.
 
Barako Bull 95—Pennisi 19, Miller 17, Allado 14, Salvador 13, Arboleda 10, Najorda 8, Tubid 7, Johnson 3, Lanete 2, Pena 2.
 
Quarter scores: 27-22, 43-50, 68-71, 99-95.
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