PBA: Rain or Shine leans on old reliables, slams Petron

Chris Tiu barely played, but even without their first round pick, the old reliables from the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters' 2012 Governors' Cup championship team gave this year's number one draft pick Junemar Fajardo a rude welcome, overwhelming him and his team, the Petron Blaze Boosters, 102-86, in both squads' first game in the 2012-13 Philippine Cup, Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It was an early battle between two teams boasting of stacked line-ups. On one side, Petron, a team that was filled to the brim with talent, pegged by a lot of basketball observers as a Finals favorite, while on the other side, the chemistry-laden charges of coach Yeng Guiao. In the end, it was the latter that prevailed with a dominant fourth-quarter display. "This is the best time to play Petron," said Guaio afterwards. "They'll be a lot more dangerous in three to four games. Swerte kami." Petron started quickly with an and-one basket from prized center June Mar Fajardo, but it was the veteran Arwind Santos who did most of the damage, scoring six points early in the first quarter. The Elasto Painters kept things close thanks to timely three-point shots from Beau Belga, opening up the floor for his teammates. When Belga heated up from downtown, Gabe Norwood, Ryan Arana, and Jeff Chan were able to score without worrying about Petron’s 6’10’’ center bothering them. Joseph Yeo caught fire in the second quarter, dropping 11 points after going scoreless in the first, but every time Petron tried to pull away, the Elasto Painters would make a run to keep the game close. The half ended with the Blaze Boosters holding a slim 47-46 lead over Rain or Shine. The second period also witnessed the PBA debut of Chris Tiu, but his time on the floor lasted only six minutes as he re-injured his hamstring and was forced to sit out the rest of the match. After the break, the two teams continued to slug it out, but it was the less heralded players who built some separation. The Elasto Painters banked on tremendous ball movement and hustle to score easy baskets. A couple of Ronnie Matias buckets sandwiched a Jervy Cruz tip-in to give Rain or Shine a double digit lead, 71-60. The Rain or Shine lead climbed to 13 points, but Jay Washington connected with a three from the corner to bring it back to a 10-point game, 78-68. Things got heated early in the fourth quarter as Fajardo got entangled with Cruz and Ryan Arana. Fajardo and Arana were both bloodied up in the play with the latter being called for a technical foul. Petron then managed to get going thanks to chippy play from their foes. Fouls from Tang, Larry Rodriguez and Quinahan, including a flagrant on the latter, meant unhindered looks at the basket by the Blaze Boosters, and they took advantage by slicing RoS' lead to three, 80-77. After two muffed free throws by Danny Ildefonso, Rodriguez made amends and stopped the bleeding for Rain or Shine, as he converted on an and-one play. The rest of the Elasto Painters composed themselves and then mounted a rally of their own, capped by a Quinahan trey and a Chan lay-up to get their biggest lead of the game at 14, 101-82. Jumpers refused to fall for Petron until the end while Fajardo was met by an army of five everytime he tried to post up, as RoS cruised to their first victory, 102-86. "We're playing with a lot of poise, a lot of confidence because of the championship," added Guiao. Last season's Finals MVP Jeff Chan led the way for the Elasto Painters with 20 points, while Cruz, Quinahan, and Ibanes added 13 apiece. Yeo and Santos each had 16 for Petron. Fajardo had nine markers on a 2-of-7 shooting clip, along with 12 boards and two rejections. The big man made a living from the freethrow line where he was 5-of-11. - Carlo Pamintuan/Renee Fopalan/AMD, GMA News The scores: ROS 102 - Chan 20, Cruz 13, Quinahan 13, Ibanes 13, Belga 9, Matias 8, Norwood 8, Rodriguez 6, Arana 6, Tang 3, Tiu 2, Uyloan 1. PBB 86 - Yeo 16, Santos 16, Cabagnot 12, Miranda 11, Fajardo 9, Lutz 8, Washington 7, Pena 4, Mallari 3, Ildefonso 0. Quarter scoring: 23-23, 46-47, 78-68, 102-86