Rain or Shine chalks up first win, stops Phoenix

Sports

RAIN or Shine finally barged into the win column while ending Phoenix’s unbeaten start as the Elasto Painters nipped the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 105-98, in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Tuesday night, July 21, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Rain or Shine led from start to finish to wrest the convincing win that came after it started the tournament with back-to-back losses, including a shock 108-131 loss to the Blackwater Bossing.

Rain or Shine started its campaign with a 114-122 defeat to the Meralco Bolts.

Aaron Fuller went to work to lead the Elasto Painters’ victory, piling up 26 points and 16 rebounds in a solid double-double performance that saw him make 11 of his 16 attempts from the field.

Adrian Nocum added 18 points while Mike Malonzo and Caelan Tiongson chipped in 12 and 11 markers, respectively. Luis Villegas, Andrei Caracut, and Anton Asistio did their part in the victory by tallying at least eight points each.

Robert Johnson piled up 27 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks but Phoenix couldn’t preserve its unbeaten start with its first loss after three successive wins. Jason Perkins tossed in 13 points and Tyler Tio had 12.

The match marked the first meeting between Gian Mamuyac and Rain or Shine, which traded the two-way guard to Phoenix last week in exchange for a first-round pick.

Mamuyac scored eight points against his former team.

THE SCORES:

RAIN OR SHINE (105) – Fuller 28, Nocum 18, Malonzo 12, Tiongson 11, Villegas 9, Caracut 9, Asistio 8, Cuajao 5, Manaytay 3, Clarito 2.

PHOENIX (98) – Johnson 27, Tuffin 16, Perkins 13, Tio 12, Santos 9, Mamuyac 8, Delos Santos 5, Rivero 4, Ballungay 4, Reavis 0, Chua 0.QUARTERSCORES: 30-25, 60-50, 80-73, 105-98.(CCM)