THE Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ outside shooting lifted them up, carrying them to a 110-97 smothering of the Blackwater Elite Bossing on Tuesday evening in the 49th Philippine Basketball Association Governors Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Import Aaron Fuller dominated for the Elasto Painters, who grabbed the early lead in Group B at 1-0.
The 6’6” Fuller struck with 24 points and 19 points for Rain or Shine, which started pulling away in the second quarter.
Caelan Tiongson added 15 points, as he and Leonardo Santillan and Fuller connected with four triples at the end of the period to send the Painters to a 59-50 halftime spread.
Fuller’s putbacks in the last 8:42 further pushed the Elasto Painters ahead, 67-50.
“Our goal was just to play our game. And get the guys to feel good with their shots when they’re open,” said Elasto Painters’ coach Yeng Guiao.
Fuller, back in the league after a three-year absence, proved deadly underneath as he sent the Painters to a 17-point edge with his inside plays, 71-54, in the final 6:07.
Tiongson was also impressive as he chipped in 11 points in the second quarter, with his two threes giving ROS a nine-point halftime edge.
He shot 50 percent from the field, to go with Tiongson’s five rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes of play.
The scores
Rain or Shine 110 – Fuller 24, Tiongson 15, Santillan 12, Lemetti 11, Mamuyac 10, Asistio 9, Nocum 8, Clarito 8, Ildefonso 4, Villegas 4, Datu 3, Belga 2, Caracut 0, Norwood 0
Blackwater 97 – Barefield 18, Kwekuteye 17, Guinto 15, Ledo 12, Rosario 10, David 7, Chua 6, Casio 5, Tungcab 3, Suerte 2, Jopia 2, Montalbo 0, Ponferrada 0, Hill 0, Mitchell 0
Quarterscores – 30-26, 59-50, 83-62, 110-97
