MANILA – Mike Nieto had a rousing PBA debut. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters cruised to a 104-90 win over NorthPort Batang Pier in the 2021-2022 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay tallied 21 points and eight rebounds as the Painters snapped its two-game losing skid to improve to 3-3 win-loss slate.
Henry Walker added triple-double 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Norbert Torres, Anton Asistio and Gabe Norwood had 12, 11 and 10, respectively, for the Painters.
From a slim 25-22 lead after the first period, the Painters caught fire in the second period behind Walker, Asistio and Torres for a 51-40 lead at the half.
Rain or Shine’s lead went up to its largest at 18 points but NorthPort clawed its way back to within 83-91 but consecutive baskets by Nieto sealed the win for the Painters.
Jamie Artis and Kevin Ferrer finished the match with 23 points apiece, while Jamie Malonzo and Arwind Santos added 13 and 11 points, respectively, as the Batang Pier dropped to 0-5.
Meanwhile, Terrafirma Dyip erased a double-digit deficit in the endgame to score a 109-103 win over Blackwater Bossing. The Dyip improved to 2-4 while Bossing is still win less in six outings.
Down 96-84, Terrafirma unloaded 11 straight points behind reinforcement Antonio Hester and Aldrech Ramos to take a 97-96 lead. Five straight points by Joshua Munzon widened Dyip’s edge to 102-96.
Blackwater responded with a triple from Baser Amer and a layup by Antonio Washington to cut the deficit to 101-102 but a three-point play by Hester increased Terrafirma’s edge to 105-101.
The Bossing made its last push at 103-105 on a basket by Jvee Casio but two free throws by John Paul Calvo and a dunk by Hester sealed the win for the Dyip.
Hester finished the match with double-double 41 points and 18 rebounds, Andreas Cahilig added 17 markers, while Munzon and Juan Miguel Tiongson contributed 13 and 12, respectively, for Dyip (2-4).
BOX SCORE:
RAIN OR SHINE 104 – Nieto 21, Walker 17, Torres 12, Asistio 11, Norwood 10, Mocon 8, Caracut 7, Ponferada 5, Borboran 4, Santillan 4, Belga 3, Jackson 2, Guinto 0, Tolentino 0,
NORTHPORT 90 – Artis 23, Ferrer 23, Malonzo 13, Santos 11, Sumang 6, Rike 5, Balanza 3, Taha 3, Doliguez 2, Cruz 1, Subido 0, Dumapig 0, Abundo 0
Quarterscores: 25-22, 51-40, 79-64, 104-90./PN
