Header Ads Widget

ROS heats up in Q4 to oust Phoenix

PBA

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Rain Or Shine banked on a fourth quarter blast to eliminate Phoenix from playoff contention in the PBA Governors' Cup with a 116-111 squeaker at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Wednesday night.

The Elasto Painters, who saw their 16-point halftime lead chopped down to just one entering the payoff period after a 39-point third quarter output from the Fuel Masters, opened the final frame with a 17-4 run to extend the lead to 13, 102-89, with 7:29 to go.

Phoenix still put up a fight to save its season, cutting the lead down to three, 113-110, with 1:09 to play, but a follow-up jam by Gabe Norwood turned out to be the nail in the coffin for ROS as the team stays in the race for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

"Basically, it's [in] the fourth quarter [where] we woke up," said Coach Caloy Garcia.

Nathan Bullock went 7-for-12 from beyond the arc for 33 points with eight rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block for the E-Painters, who moved up to 5-3.

Raymond Almazan added 25 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.

Matt Wright exploded for 36 points on 14-of-23 shooting with seven boards for the Fuel Masters, who lost for the eighth straight time.

Brandon Brown added 33 points, 20 rebounds, four dimes, and two blocks.

Jeff Chan was relatively silent in his first game against his former team, contributing six points in almost 27 minutes with six caroms, two assists, one steal, and one block.

Box Scores:

Rain Or Shine 116-Bullock 33, Almazan 25, Norwood 17, Cruz 14, Yap 9, Borboran 7, Tiu 6, Ahanmisi 5, Trollano 0, Belga 0, Matias 0

Phoenix 111-Wright 36, Brown 33, Jazul 9, Wilson W. 8, Kramer 8, Intal 7, Chan 6, Lanete 2, Eriobu 2, Alolino 0, Miranda 0, Dehesa 0

Quarterscores: 24-18, 61-45, 85-84, 116-111

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno