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| Champs again! (images from the PBA/Inquirer) |
The Rain or Shine Elasto-Painters stopped the bleeding and dominated the Alaska Aces in Game 6 of the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals to win only their second title in franchise history.
Game Capsules (adapted from Interaksyon):
RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO-PAINTERS over ALASKA ACES, 109-92
Box Scores.
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters finally clinched the 2016 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship after taking care of business against a gutsy but spent Alaska side, 109-92, in a series-clinching Game 6 on Wednesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Rain or Shine jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series but struggled in closing out Alaska, which survived two consecutive elimination games.
The Elasto Painters made sure they would not survive a third as they clinched it, 4-2, to bag the second title in the history of the Elasto Painters’ franchise and the seventh title for head coach Yeng Guiao.
Jericho Cruz scored a team-high 21 points, while Paul Lee finished with 20 – doing most of his damage in an incredible two-minute span in the first quarter where he scored 15 of his total – to lead Rain or Shine.
Raymond Almazan added 15 points, and JR Quinahan chipped in with 14.
Alaska star Calvin Abueva finished with 26 points and eight rebounds despite being limited to under 25 minutes of play due to foul trouble. He fouled out with 2:01 remaining in the game.
Rain or Shine unleashed a barrage of three-pointers in the second half with Maverick Ahanmisi, Chris Tiu and Cruz all bombing Alaska from the outside, turning it into a 20-point game, 95-75, with only nine minutes remaining.
The Aces refused to stop fighting, though, coming back to within 13, but some timely baskets from Beau Belga and Lee all but sealed it.
Almazan capped it with a huge dunk in the final minute.
Rain or Shine import Pierre Henderson-Niles finished with seven points, nine rebounds, and two steals.
His Alaska counterpart, Rob Dozier, had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds but was laboring by the end of the game. He shot 4-for-15 (26%) and struggled to find his usual lift.
Jeff Chan and Ahanmisi each chipped in eight points.
Lines of the Game:
Jericho Cruz (ROS) - 21pts, 5rebs, 1stl, 3 triples, 7/14 FGs
Calvin Abueva (ALA) - 26pts, 8rebs, 2stls, 3 triples, 8/13 FGs
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