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[av_heading heading=’RoS routs Star to keep Gov’s Cup hopes alive’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters kept its quarterfinals hopes alive with a 108-94 win over the Star Hotshots in the 2016 Oppo PBA Governor’s Cup on Friday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Reinforcement Joshua Dollard led the way with double-double 27 points and 14 rebounds for the Painters, which moved up to a 5-6 win-loss slate to tie with the NLEX Road Warriors and Phoenix Fuel Masters.
Beau Belga chipped in 14 markers, while Paul Lee and JR Quinahan contributed 11 and 10 points respectively for the Painters, which will face the Fuel Masters in a do-or-die game on Wednesday for the last quarterfinals seat.
“We’re just happy we won,” said Painters head coach Yeng Guiao. “It’s been a struggle all conference long, but as long as we have a chance to get to the next round, we’ll keep playing as hard as we can.”
From a slim 28-26 lead at the end of the first frame, the Painters managed to pull up to a 42-32 edge on baskets by Belga, Dollard and Gabe Norwood. It later went to 13 points at halftime following conversions from Lee and Jeff Chan.
The Hotshots tried to keep the game close early in the third frame but the Painters leaned on the conversions from Norwood and rookie Maverick Ahanmisi to build an 80-66 edge.
The Painters later built its largest lead at 91-72 early in the final frame behind Belga, Quinahan and Ahanmisi, but the Hotshots made a counter run to come to within 97-89 on two freebies by Joel Wright.
However, a power move by Dollard followed by a mid-range jumper by Lee extended Painters’ lead to 101-89. Back-to-back hits from Belga followed by another Dollard shot sealed the win for the Painters.
Wright top-scored with 27 points for the 2-9 Hotshots, which played the match without Negrense James Yap, out due to a hip injury, and Jean Marc Pingris, who came to the arena late./PN
SCORES
RAIN OR SHINE 108 – Dollard 27, Belga 14, Lee 11, Quinahan 10, Chan 9, Cruz 8, Almazan 8, Norwood 8, Ahanmisi 6, Ponferrada 4, Tiu 3, Trollano 0.
STAR 94 – Wright 27, Simon 15, Sangalang 12, Maliksi 9, Melton 8, Pascual 8, Mallari 6, Garcia 6, Brondial 6, Reavis 0, Barroca 0, Gaco 0
QUARTERS – 28-26, 54-41, 80-66, 108-97
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