STEVE Taylor Jr. scored Rain or Shine's last two baskets and blocked Roi Sumang's make-or-break attempt with 5.6 ticks to go as the Elasto Painters beat the NorthPort Batang Pier, 76-75, in a tight game in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday.
Taylor finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds, with Anton Asistio and Santi Santillan complementing their import with double-digit outputs as the E-Painters bounced back from a loss the last time out and, in the process, jumped two rungs up to sixth place with a 4-4 card.
The Batang Pier rallied from eight points down early in the fourth quarter and dragged the E-Painters to a seesaw battle, only to run into lapses in the crunch and thus go down to a third straight defeat.
Prince Ibeh (10 points and 11 rebounds) and Wil Navarro (13 markers and 11 boards) had double-double outings that went to naught along with Robert Bolick's team-high 18 markers with their latest defeat that relegated the team to joint ninth with the Blackwater Elite at 3-5.
Just half-game behind them are the Meralco Bolts (2-5) who jolted the Bay Area Dragons, 92-89, earlier in the day - thanks to a big boost from returning PBA import KJ McDaniels.
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Taylor had his own heroics for the E-Painters who are now back in strong playoff contention heading to their last four games.
"Kung nag-3-5 (win-loss record) kami, kandidato na kaming ma-out, kaya napaka-importante sa amin ng larong ito. Kinayod lang ng mga bata," said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
The outspoken ROS mentor said it was a tough win since NorthPort is tough to beat with their tall import.
"Mahirap mag-match up kay Ibeh. He's not scoring that much but he's so tall, mahirap lumusot sa kanya. Sinipagan lang namin, yan ang ginawa namin," Guiao pointed out.
Ibeh was a tremendous rim protector and post defender for NorthPort, but Taylor was able to seize the thunder at the finish.
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After a crucial inbound error by the Batang Pier from two timeouts, the E-Painters went down low to Taylor who struck with the go-ahead basket with time down to 18 seconds.
With no more timeout left, the Batang Pier couldn't map out a decent play.
Sumang took matters into his hands, but couldn't defy the defense of Taylor.
A block sealed the win for the E-Painters. (SB)
The Scores:
Rain or Shine - Taylor Jr. 20, Asistio 12, Santillan 10, Torres 7, Mamuyac 7, Norwood 5, Nieto 5, Nambatac 4, Demusis 2, Caracut 2, Ildefonso 2, Borboran 0, Ponferrada 0, Belga 0.
NorthPort - Bolick 18, Navarro 13, Ferrer 12, Ibeh 10, Sumang 8, Chan 8, Balanza 2, Tolentino 2, Dela Cruz 2, Taha 0, Calma 0, Caperal 0, Ayaay 0, Salado 0.
Quarters: 21-23, 41-32, 61-57, 76-75
