Steve Taylor won it for the Elasto Painters. Dennis Acosta |
QUEZON CITY—Steve Taylor won it for Rain Or Shine even as the team pounced on some crucial errors from NorthPort in the end for a grind-out 76-75 win in their Friday night PBA Commissioner's Cup game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Taylor scored on an undergoal stab with 18 seconds left as the Elasto Painters capitalized on a backcourt violation that cost the Batang Pier a chance to ice the game.
With no timeout left, NorthPort had to rely on Roi Sumang's heroics, but Taylor was there to swat away Sumang's fadeaway attempt.
Taylor missed two charities that could have made life difficult for ROS, but Prince Ibeh failed to control the rebound, letting Santi Santillan milk the remaining five seconds of the game.
Taylor finished with 20 points, 16 rebounds, one assist, one block, and two steals for the E-Painters, who moved up to 4-4.
Anton Asistio added 12 points anchored by three straight triples in the third quarter that gave them some control of the game.
Robert Bolick made 18 markers, two boards, four dimes, and one swipe, William Navarro added 13 points, 11 rebounds, one assist, three blocks, and one steal, and Ibeh had 10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and three steals for the Batang Pier, who fell to 3-5.
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