PBA: Rain or Shine torches Terrafirma with 22 triples to surge to 7-0

Rain or Shine torched Terrafirma from beyond the arc to pick up a 124-117 win and remain unbeaten in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday at the Ynares Center Antipolo. 

The red-hot Elasto Painters lit it up from downtown by erupting for 22 triples, four of which came from Anton Asistio, as they surged to a 7-0 card while sending the Dyip to their fourth straight loss for a 3-4 card. 

Asistio waxed hot early by dropping 15 of his total output in the first half to finish with 18 points while import Jaylen Johnson posted a monster double-double of 18 markers, 12 boards, and 10 assists as Rain or Shine once again flexed its depth. 

Usual suspects for Rain or Shine got the luxury to rest for most of the game as rookies Jun Roque and Deo Cuajao delivered with 15 and nine markers each.

It was exactly what head coach Yeng Guiao expected from them. 

"Hindi namin masyadong iniisip 'yung mga record, we're just trying to play our game and we try to give our rookies some live game experience today and try to rest our regular guys for future battles," Guiao said as Rain or Shine tied the league record for most three-pointers in a single game. 

"Seven wins assure you of a quarters spot so pwede na kami magisip ng twice-to-beat. So 'yun lang nasa isip namin."

But even amidst its torrid shooting, Rain or Shine still had to ward off a late challenge by Terrafirma without its starters Adrian Nocum, Josua Caracut, Santi Santillan, and Mike Malonzo on the floor. 

Ali Mubashar, Brent Paraiso, and CJ Catapusan fueled that Terrafirma uprising with Paraiso sinking a floater to cut the deficit to nine, 103-112 before he made it a 109-116 deficit.

Terrafirma had the chance to further trim it after a shotclock violation by Rain or Shine, but the Dyip failed to convert as Johnson and Roque sank back-to-back baskets before Cuajao fired another long bomb to put the game away.

Scores:

Rain or Shine 124 – Asistio 18, Johnson 18, Roque 15, Nocum 13, Mamuyac 11, Cuajao 9, Tiongson 7, Santillan 6, Villegas 6, Belga 6, Lemetti 4, David 3, Clarito 2, Manaytay 2, Caracut 0.

Terrafirma 117 – Ali 32, J. Ahanmisi 21, Paraiso 19, Eriobu 16, Bravo 10, Catapusan 7, Umali 5, Zaldivar 3, Chiu 2, Hanapi 2, Garcia 0.

Quarters: 26-27, 67-45, 96-73, 124-117.

—JKC, GMA News