Tiu takes charge in the clutch as Painters brush off struggling Bolts

MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine got a win streak going after their 90-84 conquest of the slumping Meralco on Friday to cap the PBA’s Philippine Cup hostilities at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Veteran ElastoPainter Chris Tiu — who is embracing a new role offensively — delivered in the clutch, scoring six of the team’s nine points in the last two minutes of the contest.

The beloved guard finished with a team-best 18 points.

The Bolts’ Reynel Hugnatan managed to cut the lead to just four with 26 ticks left on the clock but Meralco, coming from a loss to GlobalPort last week, simply couldn’t get a play going.

“I hope tuluy-tuloy na,” Rain or Shine head coach Caloy Garcia said of his team's successive wins. “But we play Magnolia on Friday and I think they're the hottest team now. And Paul will play that game. Like I said, we just have to think how we can get better.

“We all know [the issue] regarding those three players. Sabi ko sa kanila we just have to be professional about it and put in the effort,” Garcia added, addressing the rumors regarding players Raymond Almazan, Beau Belga and Jericho Cruz.

"Kasi yun nga, ang nagbabayad naman talaga sa salary nila yung owners and that's the only way that we can repay them. And nakakatawa lang kasi hindi naman sila nagpapa-trade eh, that's the thing na na-shock ako,” he furthered.

Big man Almazan scored a total of six in the affair. Belga had a double-double in 13 points and 13 boards while Cruz had a measly two points.

The Elasto Painters and the Hotshots tangle in a rare road game in Calasiao, Pangasinan, on Saturday, February 10.