Rallying E-Painters run over Beermen

MANILA, Philippines – While their coach had virtually given up on them, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters never gave up and showed a big fighting heart, battling back from 18 points down to jolt the San Miguel Beermen, 98-94, in Game One of their Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-five semifinal showdown at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Elasto Painters came through with the great come-from-behind victory while having to buck early foul woes by import Pierre Henderson-Niles and the superb games of San Miguel Beer’s Tyler Wilkerson and JuneMar Fajardo.

“It’s one of those comebacks that will linger in memory,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“As great as their import is and as good as JuneMar was playing, we pulled off the win and it’s a testament to the character of the team,” Guiao also said. “I gave up, but the players never gave up.”

Maverick Ahanmisi delivered a career-high 23 points that went with nine rebounds, four assists and one block as he best typified the grit and determination the E-Painters showed to score the morale-boosting triumph versus the reigning two-conference champs.

The foul-plagued Niles checked back in the fourth and made nine clutch markers while Chan had his own key exploits in the crunch as Rain or Shine sent Wilkerson’s 40 points and Fajardo’s 23 markers and 13 boards down the drain.

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk and Meralco begin their own best-of-five series at 7 tonight with the Aces riding the crest of back-to-back triumphs over the Tropang Talk N Text side in their quarters duel and the Bolts coming off a long break after beating the NLEX Warriors.

“We’re now looking forward to a series which we might win this time,” said Guiao after they stole the series opener on an 8-0 closing salvo by Chan and Ahanmisi.

“They’ve got stronger with an import like Wilkerson. But as great as Wilkerson and Fajardo are, a good defensive job can lead to our win,” Guiao also said.

The Beermen proved too tough in their 3-1 conquest of the Elasto Painters in the last Governors Cup Final Four and in their 4-2 repeat in the recent Philippine Cup semifinals.

Wilkerson and Fajardo got the Beermen to a 29-11 start, and Guiao admitted to have given up on his team at the half.

“I told them we would be lucky to win one against this team. But they proved me wrong,” said Guiao.

Ahanmisi, Jericho Cruz and Gabe Norwood led their charge as they fought to within two at 65-67 late in the third.

Then from a 72-80 down early in the fourth, Ahanmisi, Chan, Niles and Jewel Ponferada conspired in an 11-2 attack to seize the lead at 83-82.

The two teams engaged in a gripping duel before the E-Painters beat out the Beermen in the final minute.

The Beermen, who were in the lead for over 40 minutes of the contest, yielded the game on three missed triples and one error at the finish.

Wilkerson and Fajardo overpowered their respective matchups, scoring 24 and 13 points, respectively, as the Beermen took the opening half at 50-40.

The Beermen erected an early double-digit spread at 14-4 and led by 18 couples of times before the E-Painters hit their stride and charged to within six before the halftime break.