Rain or Shine leaned on the big plays from import Steve Taylor Jr. down the stretch to escape NorthPort, 76-75, in a cardiac finish in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 4.
The Elasto Painters reinforcement shone on both ends of the floor in crunchtime as he scored the go-ahead basket with 18 seconds left before foiling the jumper of Roi Sumang to preserve the win that hiked their record 4-4.
Taylor finished with a double-double of 20 points, 16 rebounds, two steals and two blocks as Rain or Shine proved to be the steadier team in the see-saw affair in the final frame.
Despite the win, head coach Yeng Guiao rued the defensive lapses of his young crew as they failed to protect their 11-point lead in the first half
“Medyo may mga lapses kami sa execution. May mga lamang na kami na nine or 11 points at some point pero naubos yung lamang namin,” said Guiao.
“Some defensive lapses, mga turnovers but it’s a good experience for the young guys marami pa silang dapat ma-experience madaanan but it’s a good thing for them to experience how to finish a game,” he added.
The Elasto Painters were actually comfortably ahead by eight, 69-61, with seven minutes left in the final frame before the Batang Pier, behind Will Navarro, Prince Ibeh and Robert Bolick, unleashed a huge 9-0 run to take 70-69 lead.
It was a back-and-forth affair from there as both teams traded baskets and stops before Taylor came to the rescue in the waning minutes of the match.
Anton Asistio and Santi Santillan provided support to Taylor with 12 and 10 points, respectively, as Rain or Shine overcame a slow start that saw NorthPort take a 15-5 lead in the opening quarter.
The Elasto Painters went on a blistering 17-0 blast to build their biggest lead at 11, 34-23, halfway through the second quarter.
Bolick paced NorthPort with 18 points while Navarro added 13 in another losing effort.