RAIN or Shine struck in its final shot at an outright playoff entry in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, even climbing to No. 6 as it repulsed TNT, 106-96, at the close of the single-round-robin elims phase Friday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Facing the dim prospect of going through a knockout setto for the eighth and last quarters berth, Dion Thompson and his teammates scored a crucial win for a safe passage, leaving NLEX and Magnolia to battle in a do-or-die setto.
Winding up No. 1 to No. 7 at the end of the elims were NorthPort, TNT, Converge Barangay Ginebra, Meralco, Rain or Shine and Eastern.
The Hotshots and the Road Warriors square off in a KO tiff Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo to determine who will advance to the quarters versus twice-to-beat top seed NorthPort.
Despite the loss, the Tropang Giga kept hold of second spot, also enjoying a win-once bonus in the quarters versus No. 7 Eastern.
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To figure in best-of-three face-offs are Converge versus Rain or Shine and Ginebra versus Meralco.
Failing to make it past the elims are San Miguel Beer, Terrafirma and Blackwater.
In critical spot after having lost four of their last five outings, the E-Painters came out of it, trumping a TNT side which had won seven of last eight assignments.
Rain or Shine fought with a great resolve, romping to a 16-point lead in the first half then unleashing another big salvo after Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and his teammates came to within one at the end of the third.
The E-Painters got the job done with Thompson, Anton Asistio and Leonard Santillan leading the way with at least 20 points each.
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RHJ and Calvin Oftana paced the losing side with 23 and 20, respectively.
Thompson delivered 22 points and 16 rebounds as Asistio sizzled with 21, including six three-pointers while Santillan added five treys and a total of 20.(SB)
The scores:
Rain or Shine 106 - Thompson 22, Asistio 21, Santillan 20, Tiongson 13, Caracut 9, Nocum 8, Belga 5, Datu 3, Clarito 3, Malonzo 2, Norwood 0.
TNT 96 - Hollis-Jefferson 23, Oftana 20, Pogoy 13, Erram 13, Nambatac 11, Williams 6, Razon 4, Castro 3, Khobuntin 3, Galinato 0, Exciminiano 0, Aurin 0.
Quarterscores: 23-27, 57-44, 75-74, 106-96
