Paul Lee had a front tooth knocked out after taking an elbow to the mouth from burly Talk ’N Text import Ivan Johnson.
But Lee was still all smiles after the incident as he and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters saw themselves suddenly ahead in the 40th PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven finals as they routed the Tropang Texters 109-97 last night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Rain or Shine made it two-in-a-row to grab a 2-1 series lead, keeping the momentum of their come-from-behind win in Game 2 where they charged back from a 17-point first half deficit for a 116-108 triumph.
Talk ’N Text started the series with a 99-92 victory but lost some ground with the back-to-back defeats.
Rain or Shine will shoot for a commanding 3-1 lead when the two squads meet again for Game 4 on Wednesday.
Rain or Shine led from start to finish as it completely pulled away with a devastating third quarter run.
It was in the third period where Lee had to temporarily leave the game after losing his front teeth while trying to stop a driving Johnson.
The Elasto Painters were ahead big, 69-53, when Lee left. They further widened the gap, 84-65, heading to the final period.
The lead increased to as many as 22 points in the fourth and Rain or Shine had the game all wrapped up when Lee returned to the floor in the closing minutes.
Wayne Chism led Rain or Shine with 32 points on a 10-for-15 shooting from the field. He also grabbed 15 rebounds. Lee contributed 17 markers, while Jericho Cruz and Jeff Chan added 14 and 12, respectively.
Johnson scored 30 markers for Talk ’N Text. Jayson Castro tallied just 20 points after a 44-point explosion in Game 2.
BOX SCORES
RAIN OR SHINE (109)- Chism 32, Lee 17, Cruz Jericho 14, Chan 12, Quinahan 9, Norwood 6, Tiu 6, Belga 6, Almazan 4, Cruz Jervy 2, Tang 1, Ibanes 0, Arana 0.
TALK ’N TEXT (97)- Johnson 30, Castro 20, Fonacier 16, De Ocampo 16, Alas 8, Rosser 5, Washington 2, Carey 0, Williams 0, Aban 0.QUARTERSCORES: 32-26, 52-45, 84-65, 109-97.
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