Rain or Shine blasts Meralco in physical clash

MANILA, Philippines – The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters lit up from deep with 13 three-pointers and hammered the Meralco Bolts, 107-79, in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Saturday, November 15 at the University of Southeastern Philippines gym in Davao City.

The Painters suffered a setback when they lost head coach Yeng Guiao for most of the game after he got ejected at the 10:31 mark of the second quarter following consecutive technical fouls. But that did not deter Rain or Shine as the team went on to hand the Bolts their third worst defeat in franchise history, according to PBA Head Statistician Fidel Mangonon III.

Rain or Shine, which, per Mangonon, also dealt Meralco its worst-ever defeat by 44 points on October 30, 2011, used a 36-19 third quarter blast sparked by a 12-5 run at the start of that period to break the game wide open and never look back.

Guard Paul Lee showed he was fully recovered from his hyperextended knee last October with his game-high 20 points highlighted by 4-of-8 makes from downtown. He also had 10 assists to complete his double-double performance along with 5 rebounds and two steals.

Lee gave Rain or Shine its biggest lead at 101-68 midway in the fourth courtesy of another triple as his team refused to cease fire despite the huge lead.

Jeff Chan added 16 points while rookie Jericho Cruz had 15 for the Painters, which erected a 30-point bulge, 87-57, at the end of the third.

The game was marred by a scuffle as the physicality escalated and tempers flared at the 11:19 mark of the payoff period, when sophomore Raymond Almazan was knocked down by John Ferriols with an elbow while boxing out for a rebound.

Almazan got to his feet and went for Ferriols but was quickly held off by his teammates as well as by Meralco players. Referees pacified the situation right away and slapped Ferriols with a flagrant foul penalty 1 while Almazan, who wound up with 14 points and 10 boards, was given a technical foul for second motion.

Meralco, on the other hand, was led by Mark Macapagal’s 16 points and Jared Dillinger’s 12 markers. The Bolts were sent reeling once again just 3 games after they suffered a 41-point shellacking courtesy of the Alaska Aces on Friday, October 31.

Rain or Shine inched closer to the top of the standings with a 5-2 card while Meralco fell to 3-3. – Rappler.com