Rain or Shine outlasts Ginebra, grabs 1-0 semis lead

Sports

STARTING strong and finishing even stronger, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters drubbed the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 115-111, to secure a 1-0 head start in their best-of-seven semifinal series in the 50th PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday night, May 20, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Import Jaylen Johnson erupted for 40 points but it was the endgame heroics of Jhonard Clarito that helped seal Rain or Shine’s grind-out victory.

Rain or Shine raced to a 26-17 lead after 12 minutes of play but tapered off the next periods. Ginebra seized a 49-42 lead at the half when it exploded for 32 points and held Rain or Shine to just 16 in the second quarter.

Ginebra was still ahead after three quarters of play, 77-74, and was nursing a 107-102 lead when Rain or Shine came up with a sizzling attack.

Johnson dropped a four-pointer then Clarito sank a booming triple as part of a crippling 11-0 attack that turned things around.

With the Elasto Painters protecting a precarious 108-107 lead, Clarito buried a corner three-pointer that gave Rain or Shine more breathing space, 111-107. After an empty possession by Ginebra, Gian Mamuyac dropped a mid-range jumper, giving Rain or Shine a 113-107 lead with 39 seconds left.

Ginebra still refused to give up as Scottie Thompson connected on a four-pointer that shoved Ginebra within 111-113.

Clarito shut the door on Ginebra, sinking two critical free throws with 16 seconds left then came up with a pair of defensive stops in the game's final possession.

Clarito finished with 25 points, bouncing back from a scoreless performance when Rain or Shine suffered a 90-114 loss to Ginebra in the elimination round.

As usual, Justin Brownlee led the Kings with 32 points.

THE SCORES:

RAIN OR SHINE (115) – Johnson 40, Clarito 25, Mamuyac 18, Nocum 16, Malonzo 12, Caracut 2, Manaytay 2, Santillan 0, Asistio 0, Villegas 0.

GINEBRA (111) – Brownlee 32, Abarrientos 21, Thompson 17, Pinto 13, Gray 8, Holt 7, Rosario 7, J. Aguilar 4, Cu 2, Torres 0.QUARTERSCORES: 26-17, 42-49, 74-77, 115-111.(CCM)