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Painters overpower Kings to extend best-of-three series


Barangay Ginebra’s celebrated never-say-die spirit didn't quite make it all the way this time against Rain or Shine, as the Painters held fast for a rousing 113-97 win Sunday at the Astrodome to extend their PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series to a deciding Game 3. The sixth-seeded team never lost its composure even at the height of a big rally by the Kings from a 32-62 deficit late in the second period to within 78-85 going into the final 12 minutes of Game 2. Instead of self-destructing, the Painters — featuring five players off the bench — answered back by scoring the first six points of the fourth period behind Larry Rodriguez and Jeff Chan to take control of the match again, 91-78 and keep the Kings at bay. Ginebra couldn't recover after that, paving the way for Rain or Shine to level the best-of-three series at one game apiece. Game 3 will be played on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum. Ronjay Buenafe exploded for 20 points, going 6-of-11 from the three-point region in leading the Elasto Painters' strong start off the gates that saw them top the first period with a 31-14 lead. Rodriguez added 17, Ryan Arana 16 and Gabe Norwood and Doug Kramer 11 each for Rain or Shine, which shot 15-of-32 from long range. Import Hassan Adams was held to a conference-low nine points and saw action for only 25 minutes as he sat out the entire fourth period. But Rain or Shine’s platoon of role players led by Rodriguez and Kramer took care of business down the stretch. A completed three-point play by Kramer with 6:55 to go gave the Painters a 103-82 lead, before Rodriguez' soft jumper from 18 feet made it 111-88 with four minutes left. Nate Brumfield led Ginebra with 28 points, but it was the pair of rookies in John Wilson and Rob Labagala who ignited the Kings’ big offensive explosion in the third quarter when the league’s most popular ball club scored 41 points. Labagala’s lay-up off a transition just before the third quarter buzzer cut that erstwhile 30-point deficit to only seven, sparking a wild celebration among the pro-Ginebra crowd inside the playing venue. - KY, RCJ, GMA News

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