PBA: Rain or Shine catch fire late, survive Guiao ejection

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters did not have head coach Yeng Guiao at the helm for the second half of the game, but they did have their aim from outside, cruising to a come-from-behind 99-86 win against the Meralco Bolts, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, for their first win in the 2012 PBA Governors' Cup semifinals.

The Bolts played catch-up in the first quarter, with the Elasto Painters replying on their flawless running game to get ahead, 10-2 early on. Four straight points by Mario West tied it up at 13-all with 3:24 remaining, before the Elasto Painters upped their transition game another notch, to go on a 10-0 run, 23-13.

But just when Meralco looked like it was going to go for the last shot of the quarter, Chris Ross ended up missing on a drive, giving Paul Lee two seconds to get a shot up at the other end. The Rain or Shine rookie sank a long three with 0.2 seconds remaining to put Rain or Shine up by 13 at the end of the first, 26-13.

In the second, Cardona led the Bolts in slowly chipping away at the Rain or Shine lead. A hook shot, appropriately enough from "Captain Hook" Cardona finally had Meralco within one, 34-33, before Gabe Norwood and Jervy Cruz grabbed the lead back for Rain or Shine.

It barely lasted though, as Mario West hit back-to-back shots to tie things at 43-43. Cruz would hit again in the paint to put Rain or Shine up by three, before Cardona converted on a swipe and the score, 45-44.

With 2.9 left in the first half however, Yeng Guiao was hit with a technical foul for getting in the face of the referee for several non-calls. The Rain or Shine head coach was sent off, and Cardona missed two technical free throws to keep Rain or Shine ahead by one.

"Wala akong Twitter account pero maglalagay na ko. It happened in front of the ref. It was an obvious foul that was committed," complained Guiao after the game.

"In view of all the things that happened, we really need to tighten up on the competence of the refs in terms of officiating," he said, in reference to the recent actions of Barako Bull Energy big man Don Allado, whose Twitter rant got him hit with a huge fine and a one-conference suspension.

"I would like to add, though, that I support the commissioner's action to investigate the refs and protect the PBA public from bad officiating," said Guiao.

The third was a tight battle with the two teams taking turns with the lead.

Meralco grabbed a slight advantage coming into the fourth, 71-68, before a Beau Belga triple gave Rain or Shine the lead yet again, 75-73.


The sweet outside shooting continued for the Elasto Painters, as Belga hit two more threes along with a Ronjay Buenafe four-point play to go up 82-76 with 7:46 remaining in the game.

The rest of the Elasto Painters then joined the fray, as import Jamelle Cornley and Paul Lee sizzled from the outside, with a trey from the rookie giving Rain or Shine a 14-point lead, 98-84, with 1:14 remaining. The Bolts never recovered, with Mario West getting little help from the rest of the Meralco squad as Rain or Shine sailed to a 99-86 victory.

"This team is used to winning without me. Nothing unusual about this game today," said Guiao, downplaying his ejection. "Coach Caloy (Garcia) and my assistant coaches are well capable of taking over anytime. They're part of the formulation of the game plan. Not a big vacuum when I was not in the game anymore."

Cornley posted a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead Rain or Shine, with Paul Lee not far behind, finishing with 16 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Ronjay Buenafe added 10 more markers, and three of his team's 10 converted triples.

Meralco got a game-best 33 from their import, Mario West, as well as a combined 34 points from guards Mark Cardona and Chris Ross, but center Asi Taulava was scoreless in 20 minutes, missing both of his shots. He also corralled just four rebounds all in all.

The Bolts, in contrast to the Elasto Painters, made just a single triple the entire night.

Rain or Shine improved to 9-2, notching their first semis win after two tries, while Meralco remains below .500, falling to 4-7. - DVM/AMD, GMA News


The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 99 - Cornley 21, Lee 16, Buenafe 10, Belga 8, Chan 8, Ibanes 8, Norwood 7, Arana 7, Quinahan 6, Cruz 5, Rodriguez 3.

MERALCO 86 - West 33, Cardona 19, Ross 15, Reyes 11, Hugnatan 4, Bulawan 2, Mercado 2, Macapagal0, Taulava 0.

Quarter scoring: 26-13, 45-44, 68-71, 99-86