PBA: Locals shine as Rain or Shine drub Barako Bull

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters found firepower from their backcourt as they cruised to a 100-90 win over the Barako Bull Energy, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, in the 2012 PBA Governors' Cup.

Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood combined for 34 points to complement import Jamelle Cornley's 18 markers in a game that they controlled for all four quarters.


Barako Bull found themselves on top early, banking on a 7-0 run to get ahead 18-11, but Rain or Shine went on its own 11-0 spurt to grab the lead, 22-18.

Building on a three-point first quarter lead, Rain or Shine started hitting from inside and out with JR Quiñahan and Jeff Chan. A jumper by Paul Lee brought the lead to 17, before a Leroy Hickerson slam cut the Elasto Painters' advantage to 14 at the half, 57-43.

In the third, Rain or Shine continued to dominate Barako, with Cornley scoring at will to build a 17-point cushion, 76-59. Their dominance continued into the final period, where Rain or Shine led as much as 19, before Barako slashed it to 12.

But for every Energy rally came an answer from the Elasto Painters, and when the final buzzer sounded, Rain or Shine had clinched their sixth win in seven outings, to stay on top of the standings.

"I think it's a well-balanced attack," said RoS head coach Yeng Guiao. "We got points from the locals and did not need Jamelle for the scoring."

Jireh Ibanes added 11 points, while Ronjay Buenafe added nine markers, making up for Paul Lee's shortened eight minute stint.

"Paul had some problems in his shoulder. I don't think it's serious," Guiao said of his star rookie, who exited early in the second quarter. "Di naming kailangan ipasok [since] Gabe [Norwood] and TY [Tang] are doing a good job at the point.

Barako Bull drew a 24-point, 13-rebound performance from their import Leroy Jickerson, but needed 23 attempts to get going. His partner up front, Doug Kramer, also had a double-double, 16 points and 12 rebounds, but the Energy's perimeter players were sorely lacking. Willie Miller, Celino Cruz and Ronald Tubid combined for just 16 markers, missing a combined 16 shots out of 21 attempts.

The Energy stayed even in the standings with a 3-3 card, tied with the Barangay Ginebra Kings. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 100 - Chan 19, Cornely 18, Norwood 15, Ibañes 11, Buenafe 9, Cruz 6, Tang 6, Quiñahan 6, Lee 4, Belga 4, Matias 2, Jaime 0.

BARAKO BULL 90 - Hickerson 24, Kramer 16, Najorda 12, Allado 8, Miller 7, Cruz 6, Cervantes 4, Sharma 4, Vergara 3, Tubid 3, Pennisi 3.

Quarter scoring: 30-27, 57-43, 76-59, 100-90