PBA: Elasto Painters blow out the San Mig Coffee Mixers on Christmas day

Frustrated with their big loss against the San Mig Coffee Mixers in Game 2 of their semifinal series, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters stewed during the short break and then released all their pent-up frustration on Christmas day.

The Elasto Painters took control of the game early in the first quarter, blew the game wide open in the second, and kept the Mixers at bay in the third and fourth quarters en route to a 98-72 victory and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, Tuesday at the SM MOA Arena.

“This was our goal for today: give a nice Christmas gift for our families, for our fans, for all the people who believe in us,” said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. “It's a nice way to rebound from our lopsided loss the last time.”

[Check out the play-by-play of this game here]

From the start of the game, it was obvious that the Elasto Painters were the more energetic team. They out-hustled the Mixers by grabbing majority of the loose balls, most of which were converted into baskets. Defensive anchor Jireh Ibanes was one of the biggest reasons for the win, exemplifying Rain or Shine's defensive effort be limiting James Yap to only 6 points.

“Last game 34 points yung ginawa niya sa amin kaya sinabi ko sa sarili ko na gagawin ko yung best ko para sa defense,” said Ibanes, who was selected as the Best Player of the Game despite scoring just four points.

The Mixers struggled to score to start the game but they were able to bounce back late in the first quarter. However, the Elasto Painters blew the game wide open in the second period. San Mig Coffee's struggles stretched late into the fourth quarter, with Jeff Chan torching them early in the last period with a pair of triples, while Jervy Cruz and Larry Rodriguez made their living off mid-range jumpers. The Mixers on the other hand could not buy a basket save for the ones made by PJ Simon.

Three-point attempts from Jonas Villanueva and Aldrech Ramos failed to go in. What should have been easy baskets for Marc Pingris and Joe Devance also refused to fall for Tim Cone's wards.

Effort was the main difference in the ball game. From the very start, the Elasto Painters displayed that they were going to put in the work needed to win, as all of them dove for loose balls and grabbed rebounds. This hustle gave RoS the confidence to take any shot on offense, as they knew they had a crack at the offensive rebound in case they miss. Chris Tiu exemplified this effort as he tried to save the ball with 1:33 left in the game while they were leading by 26 points.

"Our game plan fell into place," said Guiao. "We were able to get rebounds; we want a fast tempo game."

The Mixers started flat in the first quarter as they allowed the Elasto Painters to get more possessions with hustle plays. A three-point basket from JR Quiñahan followed by a fastbreak lay-up from Jervy Cruz gave Rain or Shine a 16-6 bubble in the middle of the first quarter. However, a late surge from the Mixers spearheaded by PJ Simon got them to within striking distance. Simon scored on a stop-and-pop jumper with one minute left in the quarter to cut the RoS lead to just one at 18-17.

All 11 Rain or Shine players who saw action in the game managed to score but none of them scored more than 15 points. Lee led the Elasto Painters with 15 while Jervy Cruz and Jeff Chan added 14 and 13, respectively. Simon led all scorers with 22 points, with Barroca, Pingris, and Devance adding a combined 30 points, but the Mixers got very little for everyone else.

"As the series goes longer, we should be able to take advantage of our longer rotation," said Guiao. "We are able to rely on our whole system and not only on the pure talent that other teams have against us. We're fresher than they are they are because they have to extend minutes of some guys."

The second quarter gave the Elasto Painters another opportunity to build a lead. Ryan Arana sank a couple of three-point baskets while Paul Lee added two more points off a short jumper for a 32-23 lead. Three free throws from Beau Belga then gave the Elasto Painters a double-digit advantage, 40-28. After a basket from Devance, Chris Tiu replied with a three-point basket and gave an assist to Cruz for a deuce.

A Pingris basket sliced the ROS lead to 13, only for Chan, Cruz, and Norwood to reply with a basket each for a 19-point buffer, heading into halftime.

The third quarter was all about the Mixers trying to make runs and the Elasto Painters preventing them from doing so. Lee scored nine points in the third quarter off jumpers and free throws to keep the Mixers at bay, even as Simon tried his best to carry San Mig back into the game.

The Elasto Painters now hold a 2-1 lead over the Mixers in their best-of-seven series. Game 4 will be on Thursday.

"The next game will be crucial for us and for them. If we go up 3-1 we'll be able to have one foot in the door," said Guiao. "The burden of adjustment shifts to San Mig, which is why for me, game four is the biggest game for us in the series." — BM/AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Rain or Shine 98 - Lee 15, Cruz 14, Chan 13, Rodriguez 12, Tiu 11, Norwood 9, Arana 8, Belga 6, Ibanes 4, Matias 3, Quiñahan 3

San Mig Coffee 72 - Simon 22, Barroca 11, Pingris 10, Devance 9, Yap 6, De Ocampo 6, Reavis 4, Gaco 2, Pacana 2, Ramos 0, Ponferada 0, Intal 0, Villanueva 0, Gonzales 0

Quarter scoring: 18-17, 51-32, 74-56, 98-72