PBA: Rain or Shine survives James Yap barrage in OT to even Finals series

(Updated 11:14pm) The newly-crowned Best Import hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 6.7 seconds remaining to hand the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters a 89-87 win over the San Mig Coffee Mixers, to tie their 2014 Governor's Cup Finals series at one game apiece, Thursday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Reid tallied 29 points and 17 boards, including clutch treys in the endgame to secure the victory.

In overtime, James Yap opened up the scoring with a banker of a triple with 3:45 left. Jeff Chan quickly responded with his own version, as the Mixers struggled with misses at the other end. Another Yap jumper after a Marc Pingris steal made it a two-point game, but Reid hit back with a long bomb to nudge Rain or Shine ahead, 86-85. But just like the last game, Yap came up with another basket, shaking off Jeff Chan before pulling up for the lead with 13 ticks to go.

With their final play, the Elasto Painters chose to lean on Reid off the timeout. Reid challenged Pingris anew, dribbling before pulling up for another triple and a two-point lead with 6.7 remaining.

Off a timeout, Mark Barroca was unable to get anything going, giving Rain or Shine the win.

"We were telling him [Reid] to attack under 6 seconds," said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. "That's why he's best import; he carried us on his shoulders in the semis he carried us now.”

San Mig Coffee previously drew first blood with a 104-101 win, Tuesday. The best-of-five series continues on Saturday.

Rain or Shine had a pair of chances from the free throw line as Lee and Belga were given two free throws each nearing the end of regulation. The two players missed all for attempts.

"I just thought the game could've ended earlier if Beau and Paul made their free throws," added Guiao. We just grinded it out we stayed there; we stayed composed, we toughed it out. The winner here is the fans it's a real treat for the PBA watchers.”

Jeff Chan added 14 points, nine from downtown, along with three rebounds, four assists and two steals. Pau Lee managed 12 markers, while Gabe Norwood chimed in with 10. The two, along with Jervy Cruz, each had seven boards. Rookie Jeric Teng added seven points in seven minutes of action.

San Mig Coffee surged early on at the start of the first, as Marc Pingris imposed himself in the paint while James Yap connected from the perimeter. Rain or Shine responded with makes from rookies Raymond Almazan and surprise starter Jeric Teng, as the Elasto Painters uncorked an 11-1 run heading into the final two and a half minutes of the quarter. A Marqus Blakely transition layup stopped the bleeding though, as the Mixers held on to a 24-18 advantage after one.

The Mixers were successful in rebuilding their lead in the second, but just like the earlier period, Rain or Shine found ways to make their runs. A 10-0 blast built on Jervy Cruz connections and capped by a Gabe Norwood fadeaway jumper pushed the Elasto Painters ahead, 37-36, before Marc Pingris split from the line for his ninth point of the game.

After two, the teams were knotted at 37-all.


Paul Lee and Jeff Chan rang in triples early in the third, but Blakely and Pingris went to work from around the shaded area. A Yap transition banker trimmed RoS' lead to just one, 52-51, with six minutes remaining, before Pingris and Lee exchanged baskets anew.

Newly-minted Best Import of the Conference Arizona Reid had his way on the low block, though, to give the Elasto Painters a seven-point spread, 62-55, with two minutes and change left. San Mig Coffee struggled to make shots at the other end, before one-handers by Yap and PJ Simon matched a Belga pull-up at the other end. After three, Rain or Shine held on to a 66-59 lead.

In the fourth, San Mig unleashed their super-subs. Mark Barroca led the way to tie the game at 66-all, before Alex Mallari found a way to get to the paint to shove the Mixers ahead. The crowd then went nuts as Mallari hit Justin Melton for an alley-oop, punctuating a 12-0 run by San Mig.

Rain or Shine finally got on board with a Reid split at the foul line, but Mallari strung five straight points together to retain the SMC edge.

RoS had a chance to trim the lead to one entering the final two minutes, but Lee missed a pair of free throws. SMC couldn’t capitalize as Pingris missed a forced shot at the other end, leading to a Reid triple to tie the game with a minute left.

Blakely forced the issue inside on the ensuing play, but he was swallowed by the Elasto Painter defense. The SMC import fouled Belga as a result, but the RoS big man missed both charities.

A strip by Belga on Pingris left SMC six seconds on the shot clock, but Yap couldn't connect. With 21 seconds left, Rain or Shine went with a Jeff Chan triple that bounced off the rim. Barroca secured the rebound, as San Mig Coffee called for time.

The Mixers had 2.5 seconds to get a shot up, but they struggled with the options. Blakely forced a triple that fell short forcing extra time.

James Yap scored seven of his 22 in overtime, though he was just 2-of-7 from downtown. Marc Pingris provided 17 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Marqus Blakely supplemented his 14 points with the same number of rebounds, a team-high eight assists, and three rejections. PJ Simon shot 50 percent from the field to get his 11 points.

Rain or Shine edged San Mig Coffee thanks in part to a 34.4 percent clip from beyond the arc. The Mixers shot just 16.7 percent from the same location. They also lost despite moving the ball for an assist five more times, 15-20. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 89 - Reid 29, Chan 14, Lee 12, Norwood 10, Cruz 8, Teng 7, Belga 4, Arana 3, Almazan 2, Tiu 0, Ibanes 0, Rodriguez 0

SAN MIG COFFEE 87 - Yap 22, Pingris 17, Blakely 14, Simon 11, Mallari 7, Barroca 6, Sangalang 6, Melton 4, Maliksi 0, Devance 0, Reavis 0

Quarter scoring: 18-24, 37-37, 66-59, 80-80, 89-87