PBA: Rain or Shine comprehensively routs Alaska by 51 points

(Updated 10:12pm) The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters obliterated the Alaska Aces, 123-72, in the 2014 PBA Governors' Cup, Wednesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The 51-point difference was the fourth-most lopsided loss in the PBA, and the worst point margin since Shell beat Tanduay, 154-100, on November 16, 1986.

Import Arizona Reid established a franchise-best record for most points in a game with 48, a mark previously established by Sol Mercado's 45 in 2010. The forward converted 18-of-26 from the floor, including 5-of-8 from the three-point line, to go with 10 rebounds.

"AZ [Arizona Reid] is always aggressive. He was making his shots, this timing was right, his teammates found him at the right time," said coach Yeng Guiao.

Jeff Chan supplied 15 points, while Beau Belga added 10.

Guiao though didn't expect the win to come this easily tonight. "It's one of those days where everything you do is right and everything the opponents do is wrong. We expected a really close game against Alaska," he said. "I don't think that's their character, we still have a lot of respect for this team, but we'll take a win like this anytime.

"We just fed off our defense, nagka-momentum, nagtuloy-tuloy," he explained.

Rain or Shine (3-3) broke the game wide open as early as the second quarter during a 31-10 offensive clinic, bannered by Arizona Reid, Jeff Chan, and Ryan Arana, which left Alaska in the dust. The Elasto Painters remain in fifth place, while the Aces (2-4) move down a notch to seventh after losing three straight games.

Beau Belga scored eight of the Elasto Painters' first 12 points, giving them the early upper hand against an Alaska squad that had mixed results playing in the paint. Jvee Casio and Cyrus Baguio hit consecutive triples to draw within two, 15-13, but Alaska watched four different Elasto Painters score on the break during an 11-6 run. Henry Walker though heaved a three to beat the quarter buzzer to chip at Rain or Shine's lead, 26-22.

Rain or Shine brought the hammer down in the second, whether it was Ryan Arana or Jeff Chan raining three’s or Arizona Reid cutting to the basket, for a 31-10 blitz, 57-32. The Aces took consolation in an 11-3 swing in the last three minutes as Casio and Vic Manuel scrambled to trim the deficit at halftime, 60-43.

Reid and the Elasto Painters continued to take advantage of open space in the paint during the third, and steadily widened the chasm between themselves and Alaska. A couple of charities by Raymond Almazan extended the lead to 87-55, with just over two minutes left to play. Alaska's offensive struggles continued, and they limped to an 89-61 finish at the end of three quarters.

Rain or Shine showed no signs of letting up in the fourth, apparently determined to get the largest possible margin owing the the quotient system in this conference's playoffs.

The Elasto Painters shot 43-of-81 (53.1 percent) from the floor and froze the Aces, conceding just a 30-of-80 (37.5 percent) clip. They led in turnover points, 29-9, off a 10-27 turnover advantage.

Henry Walker was the only Ace in double-digit scoring with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Rain or Shine 123 - Reid 48, Chan 15, Belga 10, Arana 8, Lee 7, Cruz 6, Nuyles 6, Uyloan 5, Almazan 5, Teng 5, Tiu 4, Norwood 4, Ibanes 0, Rodriguez 0

Alaska 74 - Walker 15, Casio 9, Manuel 7, Baguio 7, Thoss 6, Reyes 5, Espinas 5, Bugia 4, Dela Cruz 4, Eman 4, Hontiveros 3, Abueva 2, Buenafe 1, Belasco 0, Jazul 0

Quarter scoring: 26-22, 60-43, 89-61, 123-74