Rain or Shine ends the year right, pummels San Mig

MANILA, Philippines – On the last game date of the PBA for 2013, everything was simply going right for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, while the opposite was happening to their opponents the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers.

Rain or Shine dismantled a now even more deflated San Mig Coffee, 101-77, in the PLDT myDSL Philippine Cup on Sunday, December 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Elasto Painters dominated the Mixers with a blistering first half anchored on 9 triples fired by various Painters led by Paul Lee and Jeff Chan. The Mixers’ defense was just constantly one step late for a faster Rain or Shine squad. The latter logged in 15 assists in the first 24 minutes of play, which paved the way for a daunting 23-point halftime lead at 57-34.

Mixers head coach Tim Cone was so frustrated by his team’s blatant lack of effort and aggression on defense that he did not speak to them in one timeout late in the first half and even until the fourth period. The silence did not change the Mixers’ predicament, however, as they entered the final period still down by 20, 78-58.

The only good news for the Mixers was they did show some signs of life in that third quarter, hustling on defense and outscoring Rain or Shine, 24-21. But every time San Mig Coffee had some semblance of a momentum, the Elasto Painters would drain a triple or attack the basket for points and send San Mig back again.

Raymond Almazan, who sparked the aggression from the beginning, finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocks as Rain or Shine still played sans bigman Beau Belga.

The Painters continued their rampage in the fourth quarter and never gave so much as an inch to San Mig Coffee, who dropped to a 3-7 win-loss slate.

James Yap led San Mig Coffee with 16 markers, while Joe Devance added 14.

For Rain or Shine, 4 more players aside from Almazan scored in double digits, which included Chan (15), Lee (15) JR Quinahan (12) and Jervy Cruz (12).

With the dominant win, their team now holds a 7-3 card heading into the New Year.

The scores:

Rain or Shine (101): Almazan 17, Chan 15, Lee 15, Quinahan 12, Cruz 12, Rodriguez 7, Nuyles 6, Tiu 4, Tang 4, Norwood 4, Arana 3, Ibanes 2, Teng 0.

San Mig Coffee (77): Yap 16, Devance 14, Simon 9, Pingris 8, Reavis 8, Barroca 6, Cawaling 5, Acuna 3, Gaco 3, Sangalang 2, Melton 2, Mallari 1, De Ocampo 0, Holstein 0.

Quarters scores: 27-17, 57-34, 78-58, 101-77 

– Rappler.com