PBA: Rain or Shine sets semis date with Ginebra

MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine is bound for its first ever semifinals stint in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Rookie guard TY Tang sank a dagger trey and import Jai Lewis made three pressure packed free throws to lift the Elasto Painters to a pulsating 93-89 win over Purefoods in their sudden-death quarterfinals match Sunday in the Motolite-Fiesta Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. By clinching the best-of-three series, 2-1, Rain or Shine will now play in its very first Final Four appearance opposite defending champion Barangay Ginebra. Game 1 of the best-of-seven semifinals is on Wednesday. “A young team like us is hungry. And when we’re hungry, we’re dangerous," said coach Caloy Garcia. Running through a perfectly set up pick by JR Reyes, Tang buried a big three pointer with Topex Robinson on his face, breaking the game’s final deadlock and giving the Elasto Painters a 90-87 lead in the final 31 seconds of the tensed ball game. The Giants, playing without import Marquin Chandler in the entire second half, answered back behind Peter June Simon, who scored on a floater to make it a one-point game. Then Lewis took charge. After two missed free throws by Gabe Norwood, the stocky import grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled in the process. He then sank both free throws to give the Elasto Painters a 92-89 lead. The victory was then sealed when James Yap, double teamed by Norwood and Jireh Ibanes, was called for a traveling violation in the Giants’ final offensive play with eight seconds to go. “It was a make or break shot for me because I wasn’t playing well in the first half. Fortunately, I was able to make the shot," said Tang of his three-pointer. He finished with 14 points. Lewis topscored for Rain or Shine with 19 markers and had 16 rebounds despite playing under the weather. Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio decided to bench Chandler in the last two quarters after going 1-of-7 from the field in 15 minutes of play in the first half. Despite his absence, the Giants were able to stay competitive and even led by five, 80-75, midway in the final quarter on a Rich Alvarez trey. Peter June Simon had a conference high 29 points for the Giants, 19 of them coming in the opening half. Star players James Yap and Kerby Raymundo added 13 each, but both missed four straight free throws inside the final two minutes and the score tied at 87. Both teams actually shot poorly from the foul line. The Elasto Painters went 31-of-48, while the Giants were even worst at 27-of-47. – GMANews.TV