PBA: Painters survive Llamados

Rain or Shine survived a blistering Derby Ace endgame rally to escape with a 95-94 win in the main game of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Astrodome Wednesday night. The Elasto Painters watched in horror as they squandered a 93-84 lead in the final four minutes, with the Llamados cutting the deficit to just a point with 18.6 seconds left. But import Robert Brown failed to launch a game-winning basket on time, allowing Rain or Shine to preserve the win, its first under new coach Yeng Guiao. Following the victory, a three-way tie for the early lead ensued among Barangay Ginebra, Alaska and Rain or Shine. Hassan Adams, the former second round pick of the New Jersey Nets in the NBA, topscored for the Elasto Painters with 30 points, apart from succeeding in harassing Brown and preventing him from making the potential game winner. Ryan Arana added 18 markers, including back-to-back three-pointers that gave Rain or Shine a 92-83 lead with 5:31 remaining. A split by Gabe Norwood at the 3:36 mark maintained the Elasto Painters’ nine-point edge. Then began Derby Aces’ endgame comeback. A three-pointer by Peter Jun Simon sparked an 11-2 windup, which Brown capped by sinking one of two free throws to make it a 95-94 game. Derby Ace even got a big break when Rain or Shine was called for an inbounds violation in its next play, giving possession back to the Llamados, with a chance to steal the game away. Unfortunately for them, Brown ran out of time. Guiao was later seen confronting game officials while on his way out of the court, apparently infuriated by a non-call on a supposed backing violation by Nino Canaleta in the Llamados’ final offensive thrust. Brown still finished with 29 points to pace Derby Ace, but may have played his last game for the team as his possible replacement, Sharmani Spears, has been in the country since last week. Simon and James Yap each had 14 to pace the locals of Derby Ace. - KY, RCJ, GMA News