ONE TO GO: Rain or Shine takes 3-1 lead, nears PBA Finals

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are within a win away from making it to the finals of the PBA Philippine Cup as they took a 3-1 series lead with an 88-83 victory over the Petron Blaze Boosters in Game Four of their best-of-seven semifinals series last night at the

Jireh Ibanez of Rain or Shine avoids the defense of Petron center Junemar Fajardo in Game 4 of the PBA semifinals. (inquirer)

The Painters showed plenty of poise down the stretch in spite losing their head coach Yeng Guiao midway through the third quarter after the latter incurred his second technical foul for continuous complaining.

However, Rain or Shine used this as its battle cry as Jeff Chan scored on a bankshot while Beau Belga scored on a booming three-pointer from the corner with 1:53 remaining in the fourth that effectively sealed the win for the Elasto Painters.

Wily guard Ryan Arana led the Painters’ balanced attack with 12 points, four rebounds and two steals while constantly putting pressure on the Boosters’ defense with his persistent forays to the basket that netter him 10 free throw attempts, eight of which he made.

Chan and Jireh Ibanes had 11 each, the former scoring all of his points in the second half.
Cebuano big man Junemar Fajardo led Petron with 27 points and 16 rebounds but was slowed down in the fourth quarter because of an apparent injury to his torso.

Game Five of the series is slated on Friday at the same venue.

The win was made even more impressive by the fact that Rain or Shine played more than the game without lead guard Paul Lee, who suffered an ankle injury with 7:14 remaining in the second quarter.

The game was last tied at 82-all after Fajardo pitched in five straight points. But Chan, off a Rain or Shine timeout, scored on a drive while Belga, who had been battling foul trouble all game long, dropped in a wide-open three-pointer from the right corner.

Petron actually had several chances to come closer after Jervy Cruz and Gabe Norwood muffed several freethrows down the stretch but couldn’t convert on several attempts from beyond the three-point arc to close out the game.

BOX SCORES

RAIN OR SHINE 88 – Arana 12, Chan 11, Ibanes 11, Norwood 10, Cruz 8, Rodriguez 8, Quinahan 7, Lee 7, Nuyles 6, Belga 3, Tang 3, Almazan 2, Tiu 0.
PETRON 83 – Fajardo 27, Santos 14, Lutz 13, Lassiter 10, Ross 9, Tubid 5, Cabagnot 5, Duncil 0, Taha 0, Kramer 0, Hubalde 0, Deutchman 0.

Quarterscores: 33-28, 48-50, 72-69, 88-83.