It’s the end of the line for Rain or Shine (ROS) as Phoenix grabbed the remaining ticket to the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs via a 105-94 beating of the Elasto Painters on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters could not find a way to stop Eugene Phelps as the Fuel Masters’ import riddled Rain or Shine’s defense with 40 points to go with his 14 rebounds and six assists.
Josh Urbiztondo also fired away with 23 points, while leading Phoenix to its first playoffs appearance.
“The whole week I was hard on my veterans because I was telling them we were winning because of our rookies and our import. Cyrus [Baguio] was struggling, Willie [Wilson] was struggling and Josh,” Vanguardia said in the PBA website.
“I’m gonna give this to our veterans because we have to match their experience. They delivered.”
It was a heartbreaker for Rain or Shine, which struggled all conference long following their Commissioner’s Cup title win.
The defeat snapped the Elasto Painters’ streak of successive quarterfinals appearances at 12 conferences.
Josh Dollard had 20 points for Rain or Shine, but his team mates failed to connect as the locals’ game seemed in disarray whenever he was on the floor.
Phoenix looked the hungrier team as it led by as many as 18 late in the third canto, where Urbiztondo led the way for his team with seven points.
But Rain or Shine found its footing in the fourth quarter to pull within 87-92.
It was at that point when Baguio and Wilson delivered the much needed points to keep the Fuel masters ahead.
Phoenix will tackle top seed TNT KaTropa in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Box scores:
Phoenix 105 – Phelps 40, Urbiztondo 23, W. Wilson 9, Baguio 8, Enciso 5, Intal 5, Pennisi 5, Lanete 4, Lee 3, Torres 3, Buenafe 0, J. Wilson 0
Rain or Shine 94 – Dollard 20, Cruz 14, Belga 12, Quinahan 10, Tiu 9, Chan 7, Ponferada 7, Ahanmisi 4, Lee 4, Norwood 4, Almazan 2, Trollano 1, Nimes 0
Quarterscores: 29-16, 54-38, 85-71, 105-94
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