E-Painters, Norwood hold off rallying Kings

MANILA, Philippines — Gabe Norwood came through with key plays on both ends in the clutch as Rain or Shine escaped past Barangay Ginebra, 83-80, in a PBA Philippine Cup Petron Blaze road showdown at the Calasiao Sports Center in Pangasinan last night.

Hardly a factor in the first three quarters, Norwood delivered all his three field-goal conversions in the fourth quarter and laced it with two defensive gems in the closing seconds as the Elasto Painters made it two in a row in the tourney following a triumphant season debut versus the NLEX Road Warriors.

The E-Painters were protecting a shaky 82-79 lead when he chased a breakaway layup by LA Tenorio and swatted it away, and, in the next sequence, pulled down a defensive rebound on a missed three-pointer by James Yap.

A split from the line by Mark Borboran with time down to 7.3 seconds secured Rain or Shine’s second straight win while sending Ginebra to a second loss in three starts.

Meanwhile, Columbian Dyip and San Miguel Beer both seek a third win in four starts as they tangle with NLEX and TNT KaTropa, respectively, tonight at the resumption of play at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Dyip have scored another stirring triumph after their shock win over the San Miguel Beermen as they stunned the NorthPort Batang Pier, 110-100. The Beermen, meanwhile, are back in their old form as evident in their back-to-back wins over the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Meralco Bolts after their upset loss to the Columbian Dyip.

They hope to stay among the early tournament leaders are they take on the Road Warriors and the Texters. Columbian and NLEX take the floor at 4:30 p.m. then SMB and TNT clash at 6:45 p.m.

Back in the ROS-Ginebra game, coach Tim Cone was dejected as he thought Tenorio was denied of a crucial basket on what he felt  was a goal-tending violation by Norwood.

The refs earlier whistled a goal-tend but reversed the call upon review of the play.

It was a tight game where no team led by more than nine points.

The Kings led by three, 63-60, through the end of the third quarter, but the E-Painters raced ahead, 74-68, on a decisive 14-5 to start the final canto.

The E-Painters banked on a well-balanced offense led by Borboran and Norbert Torres with 12 points apiece and by Maverick Ahanmisi with 11.

Norwood had been scoreless until he made two charities to cap their opening salvo in the fourth. Then he personally kept the Kings at bay on his endgame exploits on offense and defense.

Japeth Aguilar and Slaughter led the losing team with 19 and 15, respectively.

The scores:

Rain or Shine 83 – Torres 12, Borboran 12, Ahanmisi 11, Yap 9, Belga 9, Norwood 6, Daquioag 6, Maiquez 6, Nambatac 6, Mocon 3, Rosales 2, Ponferada 1.

Barangay Ginebra 80 – Aguilar 19, Slaughter 15, Tenorio 12, Thompson 12, Devance 10, Mariano 6, Dela Cruz 6, Mercado 0, Caperal 0, Ferrer 0, Teodoro 0.

Quarterscores: 20-19, 39-38, 60-63, 83-80