E-Painters sink 19 triples in Game 2 to take commanding lead over Bolts
by Calvin D. Cordova
Editorial Assistant
Game today
Araneta Coliseum
7 p.m.- Talk ‘N Text vs. Purefoods
The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters peppered the Meralco Bolts with a barrage of three-pointers to pull off a 92-82 win over the Meralco Bolts in Game 2 of their best-of-five semifinal series of the 40th PBA Commissioner’s Cup last yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The sizzling three-point shooting allowed the Elasto Painters to take a commanding 2-0 series lead, moving a game away from reaching the best-of-seven championship round.
Duplicating its 99-86 win in Game 1, Rain or Shine knocked down 19 of their 38 attempts from the three-point land for a high 50 percent clip.
Rain or Shine fall three trifectas short of tying the all-time league-record of 22 triples that the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters made twice.
Paul Lee accounted for five triples, leading Rain or Shine with 23 points on seven-for-nine shooting from the field and 5-for-7 from the three-point territory.
Jericho Cruz chipped in three triples to finish with 15 markers.
Rain or Shine Import Wayne Chism scored just 11 points but he had 18 rebounds and seven assists.
Meralco actually led by as many as 14 points in the first but Rain or Shine took over in the third.
The Elasto Painters waxed hot in the third where they sank eight of their 11 attempts from beyond the arc en route to outscoring the Bolts, 32-14.
That torrid shooting allowed Rain or Shine to turn a 44-47 halftime deficit into a 76-61 lead with only one quarter to play.
Jonathan Uyloan made three triples in the third for Rain or Shine, while Cruz, Chris Tiu and Gabe Norwood each had one.
Josh Davis paced the Bolts with 25 points.