Tiu tallies 18 as Rain or Shine routs Meralco

Chris Tiu of Rain or Shine and Cliff Hodge of Meralco Bolts battles for the rebound during their game in the 43rd PBA Philippine Cup in MOA Arena on Friday. PHOTO BY KC Cruz

Chris Tiu scored 18 points, including six of his team’s last nine, as the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters defeated the Meralco Bolts, 90-84, on Friday at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

Reynel Hugnatan drilled a triple with 4:22 remaining to tie the game at 79-all in the fourth, but Mark Borboran and Chris Tiu strung points together to stretch the lead to seven with 52 ticks to go, ending up with 86-79.

A late Reynel Hugnatan triple trimmed the lead to just four, 88-84, but Tiu and Borboran drilled all-important charities in the dying seconds to put the game away.

Tiu got ample help from the rest of his squad, as Ed Daquioag and Beau Belga combined for 19 points as starters.

James Yap paced the bench with 11, while Maverick Ahanmisi finished the game with nine. Rain or Shine bullied their way into the paint, outscoring Meralco 36–14 in the shaded area.

KG Canaelta paced Meralco with 24 points and eight boards in almost 38 minutes on the floor, but the former UE standout got little held, as only Reynel Hugnatan registered double figures with 13 to help the Bolts.

Chris Newsome, in particular, was limited to just five points off a 1 of 7 shooting clip. — BAP, GMA News