Yap shines as Elasto Painters tie series vs Ginebra

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters tied their best-of-five series at one game apiece after defeating Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 109-100, on Thursday in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.

Reggie Johnson led Rain or Shine with 25 points, 20 rebounds, and eight assists, teaming up with an inspired James Yap who tallied 18 points with three boards.

The Gin Kings raced to a 10-2 lead, forcing Rain or Shine to call for an early timeout.

Off the break, James Yap then rung in a triple to end the drought for the Elasto Painters.

Rain or Shine was able to cut the lead to just four late in the period, but makes from Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee had Ginebra re-establishing a 36-26 lead after one.

Come the second, James Yap got a lot of help from Ed Daquioag early on, before Chris  Tiu and Gabe Norwood chimed in to tie the game for Rain or Shine at 55-all.

At the half, Yap already had 11 points, including a perfect 2 of 2 from deep.

Justin Brownlee, meanwhile, had 20 of his team’s 57 first half points, along with four triples.

It was a tighter contest in the third, but Rain or Shine managed to keep a slim lead mid way, 73-70.

Baskets from Tenorio had the Gin Kings taking an 82-78 edge heading into the dying minutes of the quarter, but Tiu and Mark Borboran were there for back to back layups that tied the game at 87-all heading into the fourth.

Neither team could pull away in the fourth, but a Jeff Chan triple gave Ginebra a 100-97 lead with 3:17 left.

It was the last time Ginebra would score, as Rain or Shine ignited a 12-0 run to end the game and take the win. — BAP, GMA News