PBA: Reid drops 28 as Rain or Shine downs San Mig Coffee

(Updated 10:16pm) The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters began the first day of their PBA Governors' Cup title defense with a victory over last year's finalists, the San Mig Coffee Mixers, 79-75, on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Paul Lee converted go-ahead free throws for the Elasto Painters with under 30 seconds left, finally finishing off a Mixers squad that dogged them all game long.

Lee played 32 minutes, logging 12 points and five rebounds.

Returning import Arizona Reid led all scorers with a dubious triple-double, notching 28 points, 20 rebounds and 10 turnovers, while dishing out five assists. Rookie Chris Tiu poured in 10 markers.

"We just stayed tough all the way to the end. We had some scary moments but it's just the desire of the boys to defend this title," said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao.

Guiao had Gilas Pilipinas players Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan dressed on the bench, but he took a gamble on the rest of his troops. Fortunately, they delivered, said Guiao, making their team's contribution to the national team worth it.

"I held back from using Gabe and Jeff, but we're looking at the long term here. Without them, the rest of the guys stepped up," he said.

San Mig Coffee began the game with strong penetration to the lane, scoring eight unanswered before Ryan Araña converted a floater, 8-2. Rain or Shine then arrested the slide as Arizona Reid and Paul Lee knotted the game at 11-all.

The Elasto Painters briefly trailed, 16-10, but ate up the deficits with turnover points and streaky shooting. Back-to-back triples by Chris Tiu with under a minute left put them up by four, before they settled for a 20-18 first quarter lead.

In a tough second quarter, strong defensive efforts kept the game close. However, the Elasto Painters broke away late, 37-31, on split charities by Paul Lee, to take 40-35 lead at the halftime break.


Marqus Blakely drew several fouls to start the third quarter, but clanked too often at the free throw line to keep the Mixers from making inroads. In contrast, Reid scattered points from all over the floor, leading Rain or Shine to a 50-41 advantage.

Moments later though, Blakely went for a two-handed put-back to give his team a jolt. The import went on to score six of their next eight points before the other Mixers joined the fray. A bucket by Yancy De Ocampo with under three minutes left tied the game at 54-54, and the Mixers prevailed with the lead after three, 61-58, on a Blakely triple before the buzzer.

San Mig Coffee posted their biggest lead early in the fourth, as PJ Simon was fouled on a breakaway hoop for an and-one play, 65-58, forcing Rain or Shine to call for time barely two minutes into the frame. Rain or Shine rallied back by penetrating the lane, as consecutive baskets by Reid slashed the lead to one, 69-68.

Both teams drew contact and exchanged charities, until a wide-open Beau Belga trey made it an even affair anew, 73-73, with two minutes and change left. After exchanging empty possessions, Tiu matched a transition hoop by Mark Barroca, 75-75.

With under a minute left, James Yap missed a three-pointer, sending the ball out of bounds. Then on the other end, Reid found Lee for a baseline cut and was fouled. The guard made both, 77-75, with 39 ticks left.

That would do it for San Mig Coffee, as Blakely turned the ball over on the drive, and they were forced to foul Lee anew. The guard split with 21 ticks left, and Blakely missed a potential tying three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining.

Rain or Shine fared slightly better from the field, making 31-of-83 (37.3 percent) against San Mig Coffee's 26-of-78 (33.3 percent). The Mixers led in charity attempts but shot poorly for 18-of-34 (52.9 percent). Blakely went 6-of-19.
San Mig Coffee led in fast break points, 20-6.

Returning import Marqus Blakely bannered the Mixers with 26 points and 20 rebounds. Mark Barroca added 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Like Rain or Shine, San Mig Coffee had their Gilas player, Marc Pingris, sit out the game as well. - RAF, GMA News


The scores:

Rain or Shine 79 - Reid 28, Lee 12, Tiu 10, Arana 7, Matias 5, Tang 5, Belga 5, Cruz 2, Jaime 2, Rodriguez 2, Quinahan 1, Uyloan 0, Ibanes 0

San Mig Coffee 75 - Blakely 26, Barroca 11, Mallari 9, Simon 9, Yap 8, Acuna 7, Devance 3, De Ocampo 2, Gaco 0, Najorda 0, Reavis 0

Quarter scoring: 20-18, 40-35, 58-61, 79-75