ROS, Ginebra grab 1-0 lead in PBA quarters

Sports

THE Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Barangay Ginebra Kings pulled off huge wins to grab a crucial headstart in their respective quarterfinal series in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Tuesday night, Oct. 27, at the Big Dome.

Rain or Shine battled back from a 21-point deficit to stun the Converge FiberXers, 124-120, while Ginebra shackled the San Miguel Beermen, 105-94.

Down by 21 points at one point in the second quarter, Rain or Shine, behind Deo Cuajao, Caelan Tiongson, and import Aaron Fuller, whipped up a third-quarter storm to steal the win for a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five affair.

The Elasto Painters exploded for 42 points in the pivotal third quarter that handed them a 97-96 lead heading into the final quarter.

Fuller topped the Elasto Painters with 33 points and 14 rebounds. Adrian Nocum added 26 points, Tiongson had 17 and tossed in Cuajao 15, 13 came in the third stanza.

Meanwhile, Ginebra banked on a stifling defense to slow down the usually high scoring Beermen and sealed their own 1-0 headstart.

The Beermen failed to hit the century mark after averaging 121 points a game in the elimination round.

Typifying San Miguel’s offensive struggle was June Mar Fajardo, who was limited to just three points.

Jordan Murphy topped the Kings with monster numbers of 29 points and 10 rebounds. Isaac Go was Ginebra’s surprise package as the sweet-shooting big man tallied 14 points, including some timely three-pointers.

THE SCORES:

FIRST GAME

RAIN OR SHINE (124) – Fuller 33, Nocum 26, Tiongson 17, Cuajao 15, Clarito 8, Caracut 7, Malonzo 6, Villegas 6, Lemetti 4, Manaytay 2, Pringle 0.

CONVERGE (120) – Clark 28, Arana 21, Abueva 16, Gomez de Liano 13, Tungcab 12, Stockton 12, Policarpio 10, Baltazar 3, Williams 3, Garcia 2, Concepcion 0.

QUARTERSCORES: 25-41; 55-68; 97-96; 124-120.

SECOND GAME

GINEBRA (104) - Murphy 29, Thompson 17, Abarrientos 16, Go 14, Rosario 8, Gray 6, J. Aguilar 6, Holt 4, Cu 4, Torres 0, Pinto 0, R. Aguilar 0, Estil 0, Abis 0.

SAN MIGUE (95) - Perez 21, Trollano 21, King 20, Cruz 17, Brondial 8, Fajardo 3, Tautuaa 3, Ahanmisi 2, Ross 0, Lassiter 0, Hernandez 0, Calma 0, Teng 0.QUARTERSCORES: 25-26, 52-58, 76-70, 104-95.(CCM)