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| Beau Belga and the Elasto-Painters completed an unexpected sweep of the Gin Kings to enter the Philippine Cup semis. |
*All images by Nuki Sabio/PBA.ph
RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS over BGY. GINEBRA KINGS, 106-91
The potential in Rain or Shine is now right on track to becoming a reality. The Elasto Painters used a good start to finish off Barangay Ginebra and sweep their PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals series at the Ynares Center.
Jeff Chan scored a game-high 22 points to lead a balanced attack by Rain or Shine as it followed up its 112-105 overtime victory in the best-of-three duel's opener last Friday to arrange a semifinal meeting with early qualifier Powerade.
Despite getting buried under early by Rain or Shine's 41-point explosion right in the opening quarter and falling behind by 24 points twice Barangay Ginebra kept its poise and even trimmed the deficit to just 13 in the third period and 14 in the fourth. The Elasto Painters managed to weather the storm each time, however, and went into the final two minutes with a 104-81 spread by also getting it done on the other end of the court.
Mike Cortez finished with a team-high 17 points, with 12 coming in the fourth when all was lost. Barangay Ginebra's other backcourt men -- Mark Caguioa, Rob Labagala, Jayjay Helterbrand and Ronald Tubid -- combined for 25 points, but all were hardly factors.
After going scoreless in the first game, Ronjay Buenafe atoned with 13 points while Ronnie Matias, Beau Belga and Ryan Arana had at least 11 each to make up for Paul Lee's 8 markers.
ROS 106 - Chan 22, Buenafe 13, Matias 12, Belga 12, Arana 11, Norwood 9, Quinahan 9, Lee 8, Rodriguez 6, Cruz 4, Tang 0.
GIN 91 - Cortez 17, Canaleta 13, Intal 12, Caguioa 11, Mamaril 10, Labagala 8, Villanueva 8, W. Wilson 6, Helterbrand 6, Tubid 0.
QS: 41-24, 58-37, 78-61, 106-91
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| Coach Siot Tangquincen and the rest of Gin Kings will have a cold Christmas after bowing out in the quarters. |
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| Yeng Guiao looked like a genius after steering the Painters past the Gin Kings. |
PETRON BLAZE BOOSTERS over MERALCO BOLTS, 80-64
Petron Blaze completed a two-game sweep of Meralco and set up an exciting semifinal duel with Talk n Text in the PBA Philippine Cup. Even with injured ace guard Alex Cabagnot seeing action in just a few minutes, the Boosters played
steady all night and bundled out the Bolts to earn the right to battle the Texters in a best-of-seven semis showdown starting Jan. 5.
Though swept by the Texters in two games in the elimination round, Agustin said he loves their chance to survive the semis.
Chris Lutz topscored with 22 points while Arwind Santos chipped in 18 points and Joseph Yeo added 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Boosters booted the Bolts out. Denok Miranda, playing extended minutes with Cabagnot hurt, delivered all-around numbers of 12 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds.
Mark Cardona and Gabby Espinas fuelled a Meralco charge in the second half but the best they could do was carried the Bolts to within six at 52-58. Clutch baskets by Santos, Miranda and Lutz reestablished a commanding spread for Petron.
PBB 80 - Lutz 21, Santos 18, Yeo 13, Miranda 12, Baclao 6, Reyes 6, Tugade 2, Ildefonso 2, Doruelo 0, Agustin 0, Cabagnot 0.
MB 64 - Espinas 20, Cardona 10, Mercado 9, Macapagal 7, Taulava 7, Isip 4, Timberlake 2, Borboran 2, Omolon 2, Ross 1, Ballesteros 0, Lanete 0, Hugnatan 0.
QS: 30-17, 46-32, 58-49, 80-64
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| Arwind Santos rounds former FEU teammate Mark Isip as the Boosters blaze past the Bolts. |
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| Joseph Yeo continued to impress as Petron shocased their supremacy over Meralco. |
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| Mac Cardona and the Bolts ran into the Petron wall and couldn't recover. |
Source: Game recaps were compressed and compiled from PBA.ph
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