IN a single game, Rain or Shine registered a PBA all-time record and four new franchise marks.
The outcome was so one-sided that Mark Cardona and Sol Mercado should have decided not to suit up.
As a result, the two superstars have merely become footnotes.
Rain or Shine emphatically set a new league record for most three-point shots converted in a game,
and with it went on to record its biggest margin of victory, its highest output and best field-goal
percentage in franchise history last night, tearing Meralco apart right in the first half on its way
to a 139-95 triumph in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The Elasto Painters knocked in 22 three-point shots to establish a fresh record since the PBA
reverted to the old and farther rainbow country line of 22 feet in the 2009-10 season. They fell
just one three-point shot short of matching the 23 defending champion Talk ‘N Text accomplished
twice (2007-08 and 2008-09) when the league went along with the 20.5 distance of the FIBA rules.
Rain or Shine converted another all-time record 13 in the opening two quarters to set the tone of
the lopsided, unforgiving contest that witnessed valuable contribution from about every player
fielded by coach Yeng Guiao.
Ronjay Buenafe scored 15 of his 24 points in the breakaway second quarter, and rookie Paul Lee got
the better end of his highly-anticipated confrontation with Sol Mercado with a balanced production
of 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Elasto Painters nailed down their fifth win with
only a single loss to show.
The manner by which Rain or Shine pulled off the victory came as a disbelief even to Guiao and the
rest of the franchise, who were expecting the Bolts to come out in vengeance mode after winning
their first meeting in the season-opening tournament last Oct. 19, 89-84.
“I haven’t seen a game like this in a long time,” Guiao said. “The whole team was in a zone
and I didn’t expect this from the start. Nagulat kami. Kahit kami hindi namin akalain.”
The game began with a three-point shot from Beau Belga, and the scoring for the Elasto Painters at
the end of the first and second quarters were capped by similar ways. Through the first 24 minutes
of action, Rain or Shine buried 13 three-pointers for 39 points, more than half of its output at the
break (68-41).
“What really makes it for us is our defense,” Guiao said. “This is a sign of maturity of the
team.”
Jeff Chan added 20 points and Belga had 14 on 4-of-4 shooting from rainbow country. Jervy Cruz and
Ronnie Matias each contributed 10 points. Gabe Norwood had nine assists and seven points.
The Elasto Painters, who led by as huge as 45 points (101-56), also shot 53 of their 80 attempts
from the floor for a franchise record of 66 percent clip.
Meralco, which appeared to be drifting higher in performance after the return of Mercado and Mark
Cardona, suffered its worst defeat since joining the PBA family last season.
Cardona had 25 points, Nerlbert Omolon 13, and Mercado 12 for the Bolts, who walked into the contest
noted for their defense having limited opponents to an average output of 80 points.
Against Rain or Shine, though, the Bolts’ defense was non-existent.
They couldn’t pinpoint which player to defend, couldn’t box out in the battle off the boards,
and simply couldn’t stop the Elasto Painters from draining three-point shots one after the other.
In each of every quarter, Rain or Shine scored at least 33 points.
The Bolts dropped to a 4-3 (win-loss) record. (ZM)
The scores:
Rain or Shine 139 - Buenafe 24, Chan 20, Lee 19, Belga 14, Cruz 10, Matias 10, Quinahan 10, Norwood
7, Rodriguez 7, Arana 6, Ibanes 5, Jaime 4, Uyloan 3.
Meralco 95 - Cardona 25, Omolon 13, Mercado 12, Espinas 12, Isip 9, Hugnatan 9, Laete 4, Faundo 3,
Yee 3, Macapagal 3, Ballesteros 2, Taulava 0, Borboran 0.
Quarterscores: 33-20, 68-41, 106-64, 139-95.
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