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| Beau Belga was almost flawless against Terrafirma. PBA Images |
QUEZON CITY—Rain Or Shine ended its campaign for the calendar year 2023 still marching on after trampling Terrafirma, 116-105, in their PBA Commissioner's Cup game on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters escaped a monster performance from Thomas De Thaey as they scored their fourth straight win and strengthened their hold of the eighth spot in the team standings.
Jhonard Clarito sparked ROS's pull-away after hitting a corner three just as the game reached its last two minutes, while Santi Santillan scored on a floater in the next offensive to up the lead to 11, 110-99, with 1:24 to go.
Both teams engaged in an exchange of baskets down the stretch.
Beau Belga led the Elasto Painters, who are now at 4-5, one game ahead of the NLEX Road Warriors for the last quarterfinal spot and a half-game behind the TNT Tropang Giga for the seventh spot, with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, four rebounds, two assists, one block, and two steals.
Clarito added 16 points, a career-high for him, and so were Santillan and Tree Treadwell, who grabbed 19 rebounds as well.
Keith Datu also had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds with two assists and two blocks as ROS officially eliminated Blackwater from contention.
De Thaey had 31 points on 13-of-21 field goals, 14 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals for the Dyip, who lost for the sixth straight time to drop to 2-7, and another loss will or another win by the Tropang Giga and the Elasto Painters will officially eliminate them from playoff contention despite a promising start.
The Scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 116 – Belga 18, Clarito 16, Santillan 16, Treadwell 16, Datu 12, Caracut 10, Belo 7, Ildefonso 6, Nocum 5, Asistio 3, Mamuyac 2, Nambatac 2, Demusis 0, Norwood 0
TERRAFIRMA 105 – De Thaey 31, Tiongson 19, Alolino 16, Carino 15, Holt 8, Ramos 7, Go 5, Miller 2, Daquioag 2, Cahilig 0, Calvo 0, Camson 0, Gomez de Liano 0
QUARTERS: 25-26, 58-51, 87-85, 116-105
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