By JAY R. GOTERA
MANILA — The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters patiently clawed their way back from a 17-point abyss in the third quarter and a 9-point deficit in the last three minutes of the game to steal a win from the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 96-94, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday night.
Jeff Chan, James Yap and Shawn Taggart nailed crucial baskets in the endgame as ROS snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to a 4-2 win-loss record.
The heartbreaking defeat dropped Phoenix to 2-4.
Chan scored the game-winning three-point play and finished with a team-high 24 points. Taggart added 20 points and 17 rebounds.
Phoenix launched a scorching 21-3 run in the third quarter to take a 71-54 advantage.
Suddenly, the Painters came alive in the payoff period, making a 16-5 run of their own, with Chan scoring 14 markers in that stretch.
With Phoenix still ahead by two points, 94-92, with 20 seconds left, Chan scored on a drive and got fouled. He then calmly sank the bonus free throw to give ROS the lead.
Phoenix’s JC Intal then committed a turnover in the next play and was forced to foul Chan, who then settled the final score with a split from the charity stripe.
Import Jameel McKay paced Phoenix with 27 points, 18 boards and six assists.
GlobalPort 85, NLEX 82
The GlobalPort Batang Pier finally broke into the win column after four losses, edging the luckless NLEX Road Warriors, 85-82.
The victory came even as the team mourned the loss of assistant coach Cenen Duenas who died of cardiac arrest Wednesday. Head coach Franz Pumaren was also not around after calling in sick.
The Batang Pier also scored the breakthrough win even with their top gunner Terrence Romeo having an off night and sitting out the last six minutes of the game due to cramps. Romeo finished with just 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting, five assists, one board, and two steals against five turnovers in 29 minutes of play.
Import Malcolm White and Romeo’s backcourt partner Stanley Pringle made up for Romeo’s slump by spearheading the Batang Pier’s offense. White paced his team with 23 points, 16 boards, six blocks, and two assists in 39 minutes, while Pringle added 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
White nailed the win with a turnaround jumper in the dying seconds, sending the Road Warriors to their sixth straight loss. NLEX is the only team that has yet to win a game in the conference.
Import Wayne Chism led the Road Warriors with a game-high 29 points along with 14 boards, two assists, and two steals. However, he missed a short stab that could have tied the game, and then a three-pointer that could have given NLEX the lead in the endgame.
Games Sunday: Blackwater Elite (1-4) vs. Meralco Bolts (5-1) and San Miguel Beermen (2-0) vs. Star Hotshots (4-1).
