MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters got a vintage showing from James Yap as it ousted GlobalPort Batang Pier 103-97 in the do-or-die quarterfinals of the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Yap came up with his best offensive showing in four years with 27 points, including 7-of-10 shooting from the 3-point arc, to help Painters reach the semifinals.
Reginald Johnson led Painters with double-double 29 points and 15 rebounds while Raymond Almazan and Chris Tiu had 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Rain or Shine will face Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in the best-of-five semifinals.
Painters surged to a 12-7 start with Yap posting 5 early points. Batang Pier rallied back to take a 20-19 lead on a basket by Paolo Taha but a triple by Tiu and an inside hit by Beau Belga gave Painters a 24-22 lead.
Batang Pier had a strong start in the second quarter for a 30-24 lead. Painters quickly erased it for a 38-all deadlock before Yap uncorked 5 straight points for a 46-38 halftime lead.
Painters banked on Yap’s hot shooting anew in the third canto as two triples from him pushed it to a 63-58 lead. GlobalPort rallied to within 1 point but inside hits from Johnson gave Painters a comfortable 75-67 lead.
Two more triples from Yap in the final quarter gave Painters its largest lead in the game 86-70 but Batang Pier banked on the Painters’ early foul trouble to come to within 88-78 after a free throw by Stanley Pringle.
Painters pulled away anew 97-84 on 7 straight points from Almazan. Batang Pier made its last push to get close 97-101 but an inside hit by Johnson and two free throws from Gabe Norwood sealed the win for Rain or Shine.
Pringle top-scored with 23 points and eight assists, Paolo Javelona added career-high 18 markers, while Malcolm Whit struggled with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Batang Pier./PN
