ROS clinches last QF seat with blowout of Blackwater

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY—Rain Or Shine bounced back from a slow start to eliminate Blackwater, 103-80, in PBA Philippine Cup wildcard playoff at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday night.

The Elasto Painters showed their might in the second quarter and pulled away from there to finally clinch a quarterfinal seat after four failed tries.

Blackwater went on a roll early on, starting the game on a 13-2 run.

But ROS ended the first quarter on a 14-3 rally to tie the game at 16-all.

The E-Painters then began goring their foes in the second period, taking the lead for good through a 9-0 run and eventually stretched the lead to as high as 25 while stifling them defensively.

Jay Washington led ROS, which will face top-seeded San Miguel in the next round on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with 15 points, eight rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and one steal, while Mike Tolomia added 14 points and two rebounds.

Three others had 12 points each with one of them, Jericho Cruz, even accomplished a double-double with 12 rebounds.

Arth Dela Cruz Blackwater, which ended its stint in the Philippine Cup with its third straight loss and fifth in the last six games, with 20 markers, nine boards, and three dimes.

Box Scores:

Rain or Shine 103-Washington 15, Tolomia 14, Cruz 12, Chan 12, Belga 12, Ahanmisi 11, Norwood 7, Ponferada 6, Maiquez 6, Tiu 4, Yap 2, Trollano 2, Robles 0

Blackwater 80-Dela Cruz 20, Pinto 13, Buenafe 12, Cervantes 9, Sena 8, Belo 6, Miranda 6, Gamalinda 4, Aguilar 2, Pascual 0, Banal 0, Forrester 0

Quarterscores: 16-16, 45-36, 68-56, 103-80

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