Rain or Shine sees daylight

MANILA, Philippines — Ryan Pearson, now more adjusted to his team of three weeks, and Rey Nambatac, making up for his missed game-winning shot in their previous loss, took the cudgels as ROS got back on track from a two-game slump and cracked the Magic 8 at 5-6.

Pearson fired 22 points to go with 12 rebounds and five assists while Nambatac shot 21, doing a lot of damage in the third quarter to ignite the Elasto Painters’ breakaway to double-digit spreads.

From ninth spot, Yeng Guiao’s charges overtook idle Meralco (4-5) at the cutoff line. They will aim to finish with six wins next Friday against Magnolia and hopefully secure their spot in the Last-8.

“Mabigat ang huling laban namin, Magnolia. But gumaganda naman ang laro ng import namin. He’s playing better now, he’s actually more efficient, at mas gamay na niya ang mga kasama niya,” said Guiao of Pearson, who played only his third gig since replacing Steve Taylor Jr. last Nov. 7.

“May isang linggo kami para mag-prepare. Gagawin namin ang lahat para mabigyan namin ng magandang laban ang Magnolia,” he added.

With Pearson taking charge in a 14-0 salvo bridging the last 2:38 of the second and the first two minutes of the third, the E-Painters broke out of a close contest and took a 57-45 lead.

Later, NLEX arrested a five-match skid and snapped Barangay Ginebra’s five-game rampage with a 120-117 overtime stunner.

Brandon Rosser hit the go-ahead triple as the Road Warriors pulled through despite blowing a seven-point cushion in regulation and improved to 4-7. The Gin Kings fell to fourth place at 7-3.

The Bossing pulled back to within two at 70-68 before Pearson started a 12-3 counter that restored a fresh 82-71 edge for ROS. The E-Painters’ support crew then put the finishing touches with six triples in a 34-26 closeout.

“Sa nilaro namin ngayon, good sign siya (going to the Magnolia game). Pero napakahirap ipagpag ng Blackwater. Noong third quarter nakadikit pa sila sa amin. Talagang marami lang silang kulang, manipis ang rotation. Pero kung kung kumpleto ito, mahirap talunin ito,” said Guiao.

The injury-hit Bossing bowed out of the tournament with 3-9, carrying a six-game losing skid.

It was a bounceback game for Nambatac, who beat himself too much for failing to salvage the win after ROS’ meltdown from 17 points up in a 102-101 heartbreaker to Converge last Nov. 13.

“Nahiya talaga ako, hindi ako makatulog ng ilang days after that game. Tingin ko ito ang best way ko against Blackwater na maka-bounce back and kahit paano, mabawasan ko yung frustration sa sarili ko at sa team,” said Nambatac.

Meanwhile, sixth-running San Miguel Beer (5-5), No. 7 Phoenix (5-6), and No. 10 TNT (4-7) gun for crucial victories in today’s double-header in the same Pasig venue.

The Fuel Masters target their sixth win against also-ran Terrafirma (1-10) at 4:30 p.m. while the Beermen seek the same against the Tropang Giga, who are in a do-or-die situation.