Rain or Shine tears Alaska asunder to tie series

MANILA: Rain or Shine just made Alaska remember how dominating the Elasto Painters can be once they’re in the groove.
The Painters, two nights after bungling a huge series-opening lead, on Sunday night was unrelenting, bringing down the Aces with impunity, 99-87, to make it a 1-1 tie in their best-of-five PBA Governors’ Cup Final Four series at the Araneta Coliseum.
That Rain or Shine pulled out such a convincing win even with Gabe Norwood out because of an injury certainly speaks well of the edge the Painters have in this series, Game 3 of which is scheduled for Tuesday night.
And the dominating performance of the Painters certainly brought back memories of a 123-72 shellacking they dealt the Aces in the eliminations.
“Everybody just stepped up for Gabe,” outspoken Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said. “We’re trying to buy some time for him to get well. It gives us confidence to beat Alaska in his absence and everybody making a contribution.”
Rain or Shine broke away late in the second quarter of the physical game — which surprisingly turned that way not because of the Painters’ instigation.
A late surge spearheaded by Paul Lee allowed the Painters to wriggle free and take the half, 50-38, before Rain or Shine came out of the halftime break with the same fire an intensity that led to leads of as large as 71-45, midway through the third canto.
Henry Walker blew his top at the 8:13 mark of the third, giving Rain or Shine center Beau Belga a football tackle from behind which almost sparked a free-for-all. He was required to sit three minutes because of a flagrant foul penalty 1 call that totally opened up the game for the Painters.
Norwood, Guiao’s top defender, twisted his right ankle in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and showed up with a heavily taped foot. The initial diagnosis is that he will be out for at least a week, but Guiao is hopeful that Norwood can return for Game 3.
Gabby Espinas, Alaska’s hard-working power forward, was also tossed out early in the fourth period because of successive technical fouls for shouting directly at the ear of a game official. He was arguing a non-call and his actions gave Lee two free throws that made it 83-70.
Alaska came to within 85-75 before Lee completed a drive with a left-handed layup to touch off a telling spurt that had the Painters rebuilding a 97-81 lead going into the final 3:05.
Lee, the former Rookie of the Year winner who had some crucial errors in the series-opener on Friday, capped that spurt with a triple.
Arizona Reid fired 27 points and had 13 rebounds, Lee finished with 21, and Jeff Chan finished with 18 for the Painters, who will have momentum in Game 3 slated Tuesday night.
“We need that kind of intensity again on Tuesday, we need to sustain that desire (to win),” Guiao added. “We played good defense tonight, shot the ball well and played it fast, just the way we like it.”
Vic Manuel, whom Alaska acquired form Air21 by giving up Aldrech Ramos, paced the Aces with 22 and Walker had 18 and eight rebounds. Walker also had his right elbow iced heavily before walking off the floor after the game.
Meanwhile, San Mig Coffee goes for a sweep of Talk ‘N Text in their half of the Final Four at 8 p.m. on Monday, holding all the momentum they need for the first Finals slot and a shot at the Grand Slam.
The Mixers won Game 1 in overtime, 92-88, but had an easier time in the second game Saturday night.
The Tropang Texters, safe to say, will be coming off their worst game of the tournament, one where they were forced to a 35% clip from the floor by the porous San Mig defense that never lets up.