NLEX rode the hot hands of Xyrus Torres to give Rain or Shine a rude welcome, 109-95, and barge into the win column of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday, April 12.

Looking for a breakthrough after dropping their first game, the Road Warriors found an added scoring punch from Torres, who had a near-perfect game to upstage an Elasto Painters team that was brimming with confidence after a semis run last conference.

Torres just couldn’t miss as he erupted for 28 points on a scintillating 5-of-6 clip from three-point territory and an impeccable 6-of-6 shooting from the shaded lane – none bigger than the jumper and a floater he buried with less than three minutes left to douse an impending uprising from the Elasto Painters.

His hot-shooting also eased the load on NLEX star Robert Bolick who finished with 23 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds that easily overshadowed his six turnovers. 

Anthony Semerad joined Torres in the three-point party after burying four triples to finish with 18 while Javee Mocon contributed a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.

NLEX led by as many as 17 points but Rain or Shine, although playing a notch below its level from the Commissioner’s Cup, had multiple rallies to try to close the gap.

Only trading baskets with the Road Warriors, however, the closest the Elasto Painters could get was nine points, 90-99, inside the last five minutes of the contest before Torres took over and delivered the timely hits to keep them at bay.

Caelan Tiongson paced ROS with 24 points while Leonard Santillan had 13. Jhonard Clarito added 12 in a losing effort while Adrian Nocum, the biggest revelation in their playoff run, was a marked man this time with only 11 to show.