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| Reggie Johnson had a monster game for the Elasto Painters. PBA Media Bureau |
By Dugout Philippines
QUEZON CITY--James Yap led a late Rain or Shine run in the endgame as he towed the Elasto Painters to a 109-100 win over Ginebra to tie the PBA Commissioner's Cup semi-finals at one game apiece on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Yap led a blistering 12-0 rally for the Elasto Painters as they stole the victory away from the Gin Kings following another roaring start for the crowd favorite.
Jeff Chan drained a three pointer to push Ginebra, 100-97, with more than three minutes left in the game but that turned out to be Ginebra's final made basket as the Elasto Painters made their move.
Yap and Gabe Norwood scored back to back baskets before Reggie Johnson pushed the Elasto Painter lead to four points, 104-100 with less than two minutes to go.
Yap put the final nail in Ginebra's coffin with a three pointer to give the Elasto Painters a 107-100 cushion with 67 seconds left in the game.
"We were down again in the first quarter but we never gave up," said Rain or Shine head coach Caloy Garcia.
"In the end we won it because we hit the big shots and we played great defense," he added.
Johnson had a monster game with 25 points and 20 rebounds while James Yap continued his impressive run in the playoffs with 18 points.
Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 29 points and 12 boards while Greg Slaughter added 20 points and eight boards.
The scores
Rain or Shine 109 - Johnson 25, Yap 18, Norwood 12, Tiu 11, Almazan 10, Daquioag 9, Borboran 9, Nambatac 6, Belga 5, Ahanmisi 4, Ponferada 0, Washington 0
Ginebra 100 - Brownlee 29, Slaughter 20, Tenorio 17, Thompson 14, Chan 8, Devance 5, Caguioa 4, Ferrer 3, Mercado 0, Cruz 0
Quarters: 26-36, 57-57, 87-87, 109-100
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