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| "Lee-thal Weapon" Paul Lee drive to the basket (Image by the PBA/Nuki Sabio) |
From their last win against the Ginebra Kings, Rain or Shine carried their winning momentum against their next opponent, Powerade Tigers who were also coming from a win against the new Shopinas Clickers.
Before the game started, Marcio Lassiter said that, he will shut down "The Lee-thal Weapon" Paul Lee. Can he do that?
In the first quarter the Elasto Painters still started the game with out Paul Lee. It was a slow start for both teams, Gabe Norwood made a nice up and under to score their first points of the game. Quinahan also made a strong start and they made a short spurt to have a 12-6 lead but Gary David made a 3-point shot to stop the run of the Rain or Shine. Unfortunately for the Powerade Tigers, the stopper of Paul Lee, Marcio Lassiter was stopped with 2 early fouls in the first quarter. Despite Lassiter was slowed down with fouls, the Tigers made their own run and had a 4 point lead, 17-13. Lee entered the game in the 3-minute mark of the quarter and suddenly the complexion of the game changed and he scored 6 points as soon as he stepped on the hardcourt. That tied the game and ended the quarter at 21 a piece.
It was a tight and low scoring ball game for both teams. They exchanged baskets and exchanged leads in the 2nd quarter. Chan made a 3-point shot and David answered back with his own rainbow connection. Sean Anthony kept Powerade in step with the Elasto Painters, he grabbed 10 rebounds in the 2nd quarter alone and scored 9 points. In the 3-minute mark of the 2nd quarter, Lee was called for his third personal foul and that kept him in the bench for the rest of the quarter. Powerade moved to a 2-3 Zone defense to force Rain or Shine with low percentage shots. Both teams finished the first half with great defense and that led to a, 40-39 score.
The 2nd half was still a tight game, extra possessions for the Tigers gave them a lot of opportunities. Lassiter made a 3-point shot plus a back-to-back baskets by Sean Anthony including an amazing shot against Quinahan. Rain or Shine pull their selves back in the game and got the lead back with a hook shot by JR Quinahan. In the half way mark of the 3rd quarter, Lassiter was called for his 5th foul! Very crucial call for the Tigers. No team wanted to give way, Chan and Calimag dueled with their rainbow connections, and Sean Anthony never slowed down after the his brilliant first half. Lee went back to the game and he never lost his aggressiveness. James Martinez and Paul Lee exchanged 3-point shots before the end of the quarter and with a 3-point play of Sean Anthony, he tied the game at 65 but Buenafe answered with a last second shot and gave Elasto Painters a 3-point lead, 68-65.
Rain or Shine continued their run in the 4th quarter and posted a 6-point lead 77-71. Again Gary David was there to rescue the Tigers, he made a 3-point shot and that led to a mini run and brought them back the lead, 78-77. In the last 3 minutes of the game both team picked up their games. Gabe Norwood blocked the shot of Gary David and made a follow up dunk in the offensive end. Lassiter got back with a 3-point shot, Chan retaliated with his own 3-point shot. Doug Kramer and Larry Rodriguez exchanged baskets. With 57 seconds remaining in the ball game Rain or Shine had a 1-point lead, 93-94 and Lee was fouled and he made 2 very important free throws, 96-93. Tigers made their moved but they were stop by the great defense of the Elasto Painters and with only 8 seconds remaining in the ball game Powerade had their chance to tied the game but Ybanez gambled and fouled Celino Cruz but Cruz missed his first free throw and deliberately missed his second one but they got the rebound, Gary David pulled a 3-point shot but he was blocked by Jeff Chan. Rain or Shine sealed their 2nd win, 96-93.
Paul Lee again became the Best Player of the Game with 19 points 5 rebounds and 3 assists. I guess Marcio Lassiter was unsuccessful of shutting down the "Lee-thal Weapon".
SCORING BY QUARTER:
21-21, 40-39, 68-65, 96-93
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| Jayjay Helterbrand drive against Eric Salamat (Image by the PBA/Nuki Sabio) |
GINEBRA SPOILED THE NEW ALASKA
It was a low scoring first half for both teams. Ginebra draw the first blood but Alaska picked up in the last minute of the first quarter and put a 5-point lead 18-13. Ginbera never let Alaska to pull away, they answered back and finished the first 12 minutes of action with a put back by Willy Wilson, 17-20 in favor of Alaska.
Mac Baracael made a strong move inside the paint and gave Alaska a 3-point lead but Mike Cortez made a quick response and tied the game at 22 with his 3-point shot. Although Alaska struggled in their offense their extra possessions kept them in the game.
In the 8:19 mark of the 2nd quarter, the score was 25-24 in favor of Ginebra, then both team went to a scoring drought for almost 4 minutes. In the 4:25 mark Caguioa broke the drought with a buzzer beater 3-point shot.
Baracael had a good first half and made the game close, 34-32.
The 2nd half was for Ginebra, with a strong effort and "luck" Labagala helped his team to produced a 27-19 scoring in the third quarter, it was the break away for the Gin Kings.
In the opening part of the 4th quarter, Jayjay Helterbrand made a 7 straight points and gave his team a 17-point lead, 68-51. It was stopped by the free throw shot of Mac Baracael.
The zone defense of Alaska helped them to cut the lead of Ginebra to just 9 points, 70-61 in the half way mark of the last quarter but Ginebra is a "never say die" team for nothing. They returned the favor to Alaska and finished the game with an 11-point lead, 83-72.
The rookie Mac Baracael carried his team with 20 points but it was not enough to pull out a win for the Alaska Aces.
Canaleta and Caguioa combined for 33 big points and to give Ginebra their first win of the Conference.
SCORING BY QUARTER:
17-20, 34-32, 61-51, 83-72
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