MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters leaned on a strong start to dominate NorthPort Batang Pier, 113-96, for their first victory in the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Gian Mamuyac set the tone with his fastbreak hits in the opening quarter to end up with a team-high of 22 points to go with three rebounds, three assists, and a steal as the Painters improved to a 1-1 win-loss slate.
Leonard Santillan added a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, Andrei Caracut and Caelan Tiongson contributed 15 markers apiece, and Adrian Nocum ended with 10 points for the Painters.
Both teams played shorthanded, with Painters’ Beau Belga and Keith Datu out due to vertigo and a right calf injury, respectively, while the Batang Pier missed the services of Arvin Tolentino due to a right hip flexor injury.
Painters head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao praised his team for playing beyond their size as they collared a total of 27 offensive rebounds, with guard Nocum having the most at five.
“Napakalaking bagay nung offensive rebounding, because we are missing our shots, shots that I felt we could have made, but what saves us is our offensive rebounding,” said Guiao.
William Navarro finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds, Joshua Munzon added 14 markers, Jio Jalalon and Evan Nelle tallied 11 markers apiece, and Sidney Onwubere contributed 10 markers as the Batang Pier dropped to a 1-1 mark.
Meanwhile, Andy Mark Barroca got his shots to fall when it mattered the most as Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots pulled off a 98-95 overtime victory over the San Miguel Beermen.
Missing his first eight field goal attempts, Barroca converted consecutive two-pointers with under a minute left as they turned a 94-95 deficit to a 98-95 lead with seven seconds left.
Barroca finished the game with seven points, on a 2-of-10 field goal shooting, to go with seven assists, four steals, and two rebounds as the Hotshots seized the solo first place in the standings with a 3-0 win-loss slate. The Beermen dropped to 2-1 mark./ PN
BOX SCORE:
RAIN OR SHINE 113 – Mamuyac 22, Santillan 17, Caracut 15, Tiongson 15, Nocum 10, Norwood 9, Asistio 9, Malonzo 7, Clarito 5, Borboran 4, Escandor 0, Lemetti 0.
NORTHPORT 96 – Navarro 22, Munzon 14, Jalalon 11, Nelle 11, Onwubere 10, Flores 8, Bulanadi 6, Yu 5, Taha 5, Miranda 4, Tratter 0, Cuntapay 0.
Quarterscores: 31-17, 56-48, 86-75, 113-96.
