MANILA — The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters gave the Star Hotshots their first taste of defeat with a 92-88 victory in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday night.

It was ROS’ third straight victory and fourth overall in six games. The win was made even sweeter not only because it ended Star’s undefeated run in four games but also avenged the Painters’ four straight defeats against Star this season, including the Hotshots’ two-game sweep in their best-of-three quarterfinal matchup in the Commissioner’s Cup.

Jericho Cruz and import J’Nathan Bullock led ROS with 18 points apiece. But it was Cruz who delivered the goods for ROS in the endgame, firing 10 of his team’s last 17 points, including back-to-back three pointers. His last triple gave the Painters an 87-77 advantage with 2:40 left that proved too much for Star to surmount.

ROS’ two returning Gilas standouts Gabe Norwood and Raymond Almazan also played key roles in the win. Norwood tallied 15 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists, two steals, one block and zero turnover in 37 minutes of play. Almazan played despite having flu-like symptoms and still came up with a double-double of 13 points, 14 boards and 3 assists in just 18 minutes. Maverick Ahanmisi added 10 points for the Painters.

Import Malcolm Hill led the Hotshots with 26 points and 20 boards while Paul Lee finished with 17 points, seven boards, and three assists in 33 minutes of play against his former team.

The Painters led by as many as 20 points in the third period, 52-32. But the Hotshots made a fierce comeback bid in the final quarter, cutting down ROS’ lead to just 3 points, 72-75, with 5:24 still left.

But Cruz bailed out ROS, first by hitting two free throws, then scoring on a putback before unleashing a couple of three-pointers that restored the Painters’ double-digit lead, 87-77, with only 2:40 left.

NLEX 103, San Miguel Beer 100

The NLEX Road Warriors brought down the grand slam-seeking San Miguel Beermen, 103-100, as coach Yeng Guiao’s new team continued their amazing rise from the bottom of the standings in the last Commissioner’s Cup to one of the top four teams in the current conference.

The Road Warriors thus became the first team to secure a quarterfinals berth with their sixth win in eight games. They are currently at fourth place in the standings behind Meralco (5-1), Ginebra (4-1) and Star (4-1).

The Beermen suffered a second loss in five games.

Aaron Fuller led NLEX with 26 points, 22 rebounds. JR Quinahan also finished with a double-double 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Larry Fonacier secured the victory by drilling a dagger three-pointer with time winding down. The former TNT KaTropa gunner finished with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists.

SMB was led by Wendell Mckines who registered 28 points, 14 boards, and six assists. Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot, and Arwind Santos scored 19 points apiece in a losing effort. Three-time MVP June Mar Fajardo was held to just six points and six boards in 20 minutes.

Games Wednesday: Blackwater Elite (3-3) vs. TNT KaTropa Texters (3-2) and Phoenix Fuel Masters (2-6) vs. Barangay Ginebra Kings (4-1).