FROM a flat 0-4 conference start, Rain or Shine worked on a wondrous job making the team the fourth team to advance to the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
It was quite a feat the Elasto Painters sealed with a 120-104 rout of the jolted NLEX Road Warriors in the penultimate play date of the eliminations Friday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Coach Yeng Guiao's troops fought with their hearts out and rebounded strong from a loss to the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots the last time out for a 6-5 win-loss closing mark in the elims.
With that, the E-Painters became the fourth team to enter the post-elims play after the San Miguel Beermen (10-0), the Barangay Ginebra Kings (7-3) and the Magnolia Hotshots (6-4).
With torrid shooting, the E-Painters produced at least 30 points in each of the first three quarters and dealt the Road Warriors a fourth straight loss that sent NLEX to joint fifth with TNT and Meralco at 5-5.
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The Road Warriors, the Tropang Giga and the Bolts all need to win their last outing in the elims to avoid a logjam with the Terrafirma Dyip and the NorthPort Batang Pier at 5-6 and the grim possibility of a knockout playoff for the last quarters berth.
Meralco faces San Miguel Beer Saturday in Batangas City while TNT and NLEX battle Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra, respectively, Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
For ROS, the hunt for a quarters berth was achieved with a fluid-motion offense marked by 53-percent field clip and 28 assists.
The Road Warriors, on the other hand, were limited to 47-percent shooting and 16 assists despite the return of Robert Bolick, the tournament scoring leader who erupted for 38 points.
Belga sustained his personal romp and fired 18 to lead the Elasto Painters scoring parade. He also collected four assists, two rebounds and one steal against three turnovers.
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Rain or Shine once again displayed a balanced scoring, with five other E-Painters finishing in double figures.
Santi Santillan rifled in 17, Jonard Clarito logged in 15, Shaun Ildefonso contributed 14 while Andre Caracut and Gian Mamuyac put in 12 apiece.(SB)
