PBA: Quiñahan triple preserves Rain or Shine's streak as buzzer-beater shoots down Meralco

(Updated 8:20pm) The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters got a game-wining triple from JR Quiñahan to survive the Meralco Bolts, 89-86, in the PLDT MyDSL 2014 PBA Philippine Cup, Wednesday, at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Rain or Shine, 10-3, has now won a franchise-record six straight games. That's also the longest active win streak in the league, moving them to second place in the standings. Meralco's loss allows Barako Bull and GlobalPort to tie things up at fifth place, 5-8,

Off Meralco's last timeout, Gary David scooped a layup to draw within two, 85-83. The Bolts sent Lee to the line, who then split, 86-83, with 14 seconds left. The Bolts ran the ball up-court, with Jared Dillinger drawing a foul from Jireh Ibanes, resulting in an inbounds since Rain or Shine was not yet in the penalty. Dillinger then hit David curling atop the circle for a long three-pointer to tie the game.

The Elasto Painters regrouped, but Lee's baseline attempt hit the side of the rim. The ball went out of bounds but stayed with Rain or Shine with 0.7 left on the clock. This time they made sure, as Norwood hit JR Quiñahan as he flared away from the hoop, and after an official review, the big man's shot counted, giving them the win.

Jeff Chan led his team with 16 points. Paul Lee added 14 points and five rebounds, while Gabe Norwood notched 10 points and two steals.

Quiñahan finished with five points, five rebounds, and notched two each in the assists, steals and blocks departments.

"Alam ko kasing quick release si JR. It was tough when we played them the first time, it also went to the endgame," said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. Quinahan went 0-of-3 from beyond the arc prior to the basket, but rewarded his coach's trust with a clutch make to seal the win.

[Related: Belga helps Rain or Shine shrug off controversial call, improve to 2-0]

Rain or Shine also beat Meralco earlier this conference, 92-89.

"I just felt that one great shot deserves another. It was a great shot taken by Gary, and an even bigger one taken by JR. Kumbaga one chamba deserves another," joked Guiao.

Nevertheless, Guiao downplayed his team's success. "We're riding a streak of good luck," he said. We're just taking this momentum to wherever it's going to take us. Somehow there's some pressure there knowing you're on a streak, but we just put it in the back of our heads and try to salvage a twice-to-beat advantage."

Both teams survived on three-point shooting in a tight first quarter, bannered by nine early points from Gary David. But Meralco cooled off and hit just one field goal in the last four minutes, while Jeff Chan and Beau Belga struck from deep to end the first quarter with a 23-21 margin in Rain or Shine's favor.

The Elasto Painters extended the lead to seven, 30-23, off a Paul Lee three-pointer. However, Meralco's reserve point guard Paul Artadi kept his team in the game with his hustle and playmaking early in the second quarter. Artadi spearheaded a 9-0 Bolts run, before rookie Jeric Teng drilled another three-pointer, en route to a 37-34 Rain or Shine lead.

Rain or Shine distributed the scoring load to end the half, alternating from mid-range makes to driving for layups, as TY Tang hit Jervy Cruz cutting along the baseline with 37 seconds to go, for a 45-43 lead. But Reynel Hugnatan kept the Bolts alive until halftime, scoring seven of Meralco's last 13 points, including a tip-in with 17 ticks left to knot the score at halftime, 45-45.

Neither team led by more than three points for much of the third, as a Rabeh Al-Hussaini dunk, followed by a Sunday Salvacion fast break, powered a 52-49 Bolts advantage. However the lead didn't last long, as Paul Lee and Gabe Norwood proceeded to wreak havoc in the paint, especially off Meralco turnovers. The pair combined for 10 points during a 16-7 Rain or Shine surge, capped by Alex Nuyles on the break to make it a 65-59 game.

With under two minutes left, David nailed a trey to end a three-minute drought from the field. However, 2013 third overall pick Raymond Almazan scored on back-to-back trips, including a tip-in with 1.4 ticks left, crafting a 70-64 lead entering the payoff period.

Meralco surged back with a 6-1 run early in the fourth, 71-70, capped by a Hugnatan drive. The Elasto Painters though continued to pounce on Meralco's errors and widened the gap anew, 77-70, after Chan converted on the break.

In response, John Wilson erupted for five points to spark a 9-4 swing for his team, trailing 81-79 on a Danny Ildefonso jumper with two minutes to play. Rain or Shine kept their cool though, as Norwood posted up Ildefonso and scored on the block, 83-79.

Meralco came up empty on their next two trips as Idefonso missed from the elbow and Dillinger's drive couldn't hit the ring. But the Bolts lucked out with a missed triple from Chan, and Dillinger streaked to the other end for two, 83-81. Wilson then fouled Chan, and the wingman hit two charities with 19 seconds left, 85-81.

Rain or Shine led in turnover points, 18-8, milking Meralco's 14-6 lead in turnovers.

Gary David had a game-high 25 points and eight rebounds. John Wilson registered 12 markers and 11 boards. Reynel Hugnatan and Jared Dillinger had 11 points and 11 rebounds apiece, though Dillinger also tallied five dimes. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Rain or Shine 89 - Chan 16, Lee 14, Norwood 10, Cruz 8, Belga 7, Almazan 7, Ibanes 7, Rodriguez 6, Quiñahan 5, Nuyles 4, Teng 3, Tiu 2, Arana 0, Tang 0

Meralco 86 - David 25, Wilson 12, Hugnatan 11, Dillinger 11, Salvacion 8, Artadi 6, Al-Hussaini 5, Ildefonso 4, Hodge 4, Guevarra 0

Quarter scoring: 23-21, 45-45, 70-64, 89-86