Reid game-winner pushes Rain or Shine past San Mig Coffee

MANILA, Philippines – When you’ve got two tactician coaches in Yeng Guiao and Tim Cone going at it, you can practically expect the game to be decided right at the last possession. 

That’s how it was on Monday night as Guiao and Cone drew up big plays for their big time players. 

But it was Arizona Reid’s steely staredown on television that would be remembered in this final eliminations game of the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup as his game-winner propelled the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters past the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, 95-94, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.  

Down 93-94 with precisely 3 seconds left on the clock, Guiao drew up the game-winning play for import Arizona Reid.  

Paul Lee (7 points, 5 assists) inbounded the ball right into the hands of Reid who was standing on the left corner just inside the arc as he put up the shot over the outstretched hands of Ian Sangalang.  

The basket kissed the bottom of the net, leaving San Mig with only 1.1 seconds to work with, which wasn’t enough as James Yap (8 points) heaved a rushed three-point shot that was not even close.  

Reid finished with 39 points on 15-of-26 field goals to go with 9 boards. 

“Two weeks ago we were just trying to survive. We were just trying to avoid elimination,” said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao of his team that started the conference at 1-3. “We never thought we could be at second place. 

“We just wanted to get to the next round on a winning note that’s why we tried hard to win this game.” 

Before that game-winner, Ronnie Matias scored his lone field goal of the game on a putback of import Marqus Blakely’s missed lay-in, which put the Mixers up by 94-93. 

The Mixers, playing mostly with their second and third units, clawed back from a double-digit deficit at the half, 60-46.  

“Both teams were trying to keep their players fresh because there’s going to be little rest in the playoffs,” Guiao said.  

“That’s a 5-game run now and that’s a good way to make it to the quarters.” 

Gabe Norwood chipped in 12 markers, including the go-ahead triple with 1:49 that made it a 91-89 Rain or Shine advantage.  

Rookie big man Raymond Almazan had a 10-point, 6-rebound production.  

The win extended Rain or Shine’s win streak to 5. They will head into the quarter finals as the second seed and armed with a twice-to-beat edge, going up against the Air21 Express on Wednesday night.  

“Air21 is going to be a handful for us. They’re playing I think their best conference so far,” Guiao said. 

He also noted the disadvantage they will have against a bigger Air21 frontline.  

“They’re a big team. We have problems with big teams. We are a small team, we have a small import so Asi (Taulava) will be a problem and their import Sutton will be a problem,” he explained.  

Coincidentally, the Mixers’ frontline was also a challenge for Guiao and his team as they were sorely outrebounded, 60-41, and clobbered on second-chance points, 21-10.  

Though Guiao has an initial game plan against the Express.  

“All we can do is to rotate our big men. And they’ll just have to work hard at denying them (Air21) touches at the low post.” 

For the Mixers, Marc Pingris led the way with 15 points in just 23 minutes of playing time. Sangalang and PJ Simon had 14 and 13 markers, respectively, as Blakely wound up with 10 points and 10 boards.  

San Mig Coffee ended up as the fourth seed, also with a twice-to-beat edge, and will go up against the San Miguel Beermen right away on Tuesday night.  

Due to the Painters’ win, superior quotient put the Alaska Aces in third spot. They will clash with Barangay Ginebra once more like they did in the previous Philippine Cup, but this time, with Alaska holding the twice-to-bead advantage. 

Below is a complete list of the quarter finals picture for this conference:  

1 Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters VS 8 Barako Bull Energy 

2 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters VS 7 Air21 Express

3 Alaska Aces VS 6 Barangay Ginebra 

4 San Mig Coffee VS 5 San Miguel Beermen 

The first to fourth seeded teams hold twice-to-beat advantages.  

Scores 

Rain or Shine 95 – Reid 39, Norwood 12, Almazan 10, Belga 8, Lee 7, Cruz 6, Chan 6, Teng 4, Arana 3, Uyloan 0, Tiu 0, Nuyles 0, Ibanes 0, Rodriguez 0.

San Mig Super Coffee 94 – Pingris 15, Sangalang 14, Simon 13, Blakely 10, Yap 8, Taha 7, Melton 7, Barroca 6, Mallari 6, Devance 4, Maliksi 2, Matias 2, Holstein 0. 

Quarter scores: 34-28, 60-46, 77-73, 95-94. 

– Rappler.com