PBA: Rain or Shine sends Alaska near bottom of standings

MANILA, Philippines – The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters buried defending champions Alaska Aces further down in the standings after a 92-78 win in the PLDT Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Saturday, March 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Alaska played well early taking a 9-3 advantage a little over 3 minutes into the game.

But Rain or Shine’s Chris Tiu found his touch and gave the Elasto Painters the lead, 13-12, capping a 10-to-3 run in the first quarter with a three-pointer. Alaska would trail the rest of the way.

Chan on target

Gilas gunner Jeff Chan caught fire in the third quarter hitting triple after triple. The Painters blew the game wide open in the third highlighted by Chan’s 4-point play and the back-to-back triples from import Alex McLean and Chan that gave Rain or Shine an 18-point lead, 67-49, with 1:43 left in the third.

Chan finished the game with 24 points on 6/10 shooting from downtown.

Rain or Shine had an answer for every Alaska run effectively maintaining at least a 10-point distance between them and the defending champs who now falls to 1-3 in the standings – just a win away from the cellar-dwelling GlobalPort Batang Pier.

Head coach Yeng Guiao said his team simply played better today. They now hold a 1-1 win-loss record.

Import Rob Dozier carried the fight for Alaska finishing with 27 points while also providing energy and key stops on the defensive end. Unfortunately, he was the only Ace to finish in double figures.

The Scores

Rain or Shine (92) – Chan 24, McLean 19, Lee 11, Almazan 9, Tiu 9, Arana 8, Rodriguez 4, Cruz 3, Belga 2, Tang 2, Norwood 1, Teng 0, Ibanes 0.

Alaska (78) – Dozier 27, Jazul 9, Thoss 8, Hontiveros 7, Casio 5, Espinas 5, Abueva 5, Manuel 5, Baguio 5, Dela Cruz 2.

Quarters: 18-17; 38-32; 69-58; 92-78