PBA: Team effort tows Rain or Shine past Globalport

Arizona Reid and Ryan Araña combined for 48 points as the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters defeated the Globalport Batang Pier, 94-74 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Two assignments in and the defending conference champs have notched their second win. Globalport on the other hand evens their card at 1-1.

Globalport started well, as Jay Washington and JP Belencion connected on their triples to give the Batang Pier a 10-2 lead two minutes into the game. Rain or Shine slowly inched closer though, as Arizona Reid scored on a pair of buckets, while Paul Lee and Jireh Ibañes drained triples to tie the game at 17-all.

A Marvin Hayes jumper, followed by a pair of free throws from Sol Mercado had Globaport regaining the lead, but another Lee triple and a Reid split from the line knotted the game at 21-all, with two minutes to go. A Kelly Nabong banker then ended the period with Globalport slightly ahead, 23-21.

Rain or Shine finally got a taste of the lead after five points from Beau Belga, 26-24. Reid bumped their score up after a layup, while Araña and Quinahan found their stroke to help erect an eight-point lead to end the half, on top 41-33.

Globalport leaned on Markeith Cummings and Belencion for five early points in the third, cutting their deficit to five, but Araña stayed aggressive for deuces, while Belga chipped in seven to pad Rain or Shine's lead. Another drive from Araña led to an and-one play, as the Elasto Painters established a 62-47 edge with less than five minutes left in the third. RoS then held on to a 71-58 lead entering the payoff period.

Gary David and Nabong spearheaded Globalport's attempt at a comeback in the fourth. A Cummings one-hander, followed by a Nabong split, cut the deficit to just eight, 77-69, but Araña, Reid and Quiñahan responded with makes to establish a 15-point buffer with less than three minutes remaining. The Batang Pier would never recover as RoS cruised to another win.

Reid led all scorers with 27 points in just 36 minutes of action. He added 17 rebounds and five assists too.

Ryan Araña gave him ample support with 21 points in 21 minutes, making all seven of his attempts inside the arc. Paul Lee added 15 markers and seven boards.

Markeith Cummings produced 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead Globalport, but he was 3-of-10 from the foul stripe. Sol Mercado added 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, but turned the ball over a team-high five times, while a trio of new additions, Jaypee Belencion, Jay Washington, and Marvin Hayes combined for only 15 markers.

Players on both teams from Pilipinas Gilas saw limited minutes, as Gabe Norwood (five minutes) and Jeff Chan (18 minutes) of Rain or Shine, and Gary David (12 minutes) of GlobalPort, all took to the floor.

Foul shooting was a big issue for the Batang Pier, as they were just 17-of-33 on charities, compared to 20-of-26 for the Elasto Painters. Rain or Shine also had a 22-13 advantage in assists, as well as a 19-8 edge in turnover points. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Rain or Shine 94 - Reid 27, Arana 21, Lee 15, Belga 6, Quinahan 6, Matias 5, Rodriguez 5, Chan 4, Ibanes 3, Cruz 2, Tiu 0, Norwood 0, Tang 0

GlobalPort 74 - Cummings 23, Mercado 13, Miller 8, Yee 7, Belencion 6, Washington 5, Hayes 4, Nabong 4, David 3, Buensuceso 1, Lingganay 0, Alonzo 0, Salvador 0

Quarter scoring: 21-23, 41-33, 71-58, 94-74