By Jelly Musico
MANILA, (PNA) -– Defending champion Rain or Shine played solid fourth quarter to beat GlobalPort, 108-106, and advanced in the semifinals Thursday night in the PBA Governor’s Cup at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
Struggling almost throughout the game, Gabe Norwood drilled in a three-point shot that gave the Paint Masters a 107-103 lead, with only 17 seconds left in the game.
Despite losing their head coach Junel Baculi late in the third quarter, the Batang Pier found hard behind their import Markeith Cummings but missed crucial baskets at the end game.
Import Arizona Reid top scored with 25 points but it was Ryan Arana and Norwood who delivered big shots that put Rain or Shine in the semifinals against the winner of Petron and Ginebra.
”We made big (with) some big shots. Ryan made a big shot, Gabe made the biggest shot. We won the against a ball club that is getting better every game,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said.
Cummings scored a game-high 29 points to no avail as the Batang Pier could not extend their best finish in their young stint in the league.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 108 – Reid 25, Arana 16, Lee 14, Cruz 12, Tiu 10, Norwood 9, Belga 7, Quinahan 7, Chan 6, Rodriguez 2, Uyloan 0, Matias 0, Tang 0, Ibanes 0.
GlobalPort 106 – Cummings 29, Mercado 22, Washington 18, David 18, Nabong 5, Taha 4, Lingganay 4, Salvador 4, Miller 2, Belencion 0, Alonzo 0.
Quarters: 23-34, 49-53, 77-78, 108-106.