ANTIPOLO -- A lift from Jay Washington in the last eight minutes and a steal by Chris Tiu in the last eight seconds preserved Rain or Shine's unbeaten slate in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
Washington played big off the bench in the last eight minutes and Tiu stole NLEX's crucial final possession as the Elasto Painters squeaked past the Road Warriors, 98-97, for a third straight win in the import-laced mid-season tourney at the Ynares Sports Center hereWednesday night.
"Sabi ko sa mga players namin kung sino ang gamitin just be ready. Kasi iba-iba ang magiging balasa namin depende sa kalaban. J-Wash just played in the end but he made the crucial shots," said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.
Washington knocked in two treys and a total of 10 points in the last 8:19 of play before Tiu stole the thunder at the finish on a defensive gem on Juami Tiongson in the closing seconds.
The Road Warriors vehemently protested what they felt as a wrong no-call on the Tiu-Tiongson play but the refs stood path on their decision.
Sponsored content: "It's a scary win for us. For both sides, there were calls that should have been called but not called. It's break of the game," said Garcia after they escaped with the win and thus dealt the Road Warriors a second straight loss.
Reggie Johnson, Raymond Almazan and Tiu carried the offensive load for ROS early on in the game where NLEX finally played original import choice Arnett Moultrie.
Johnson had 27 points and 14 rebounds for the E-Painters while Moultrie produced 24 markers and 17 boards for the Road Warriors in the tough seesawing ball game that boiled down to the last possession.
It was tough for the Road Warriors as they ran out of timeout with over three minutes left to play.
They couldn't call a timeout to map out of play after the E-Painters moved ahead, 98-97, on a split from the line by Johnson with 7.8 ticks to go.
Sponsored content: NLEX led by five, 77-72, at the start of the final quarter but Rain or Shine grabbed the upper hand at 88-86 on a trey by Washington entering the last four minutes of the game.
The two teams engaged in a fierce duel to the finish.
The Road Warriors were in the lead most of the way with Kiefer Ravena, JR Quinahan and Moultrie leading their offensive charge.
Ravena came through with a solid all-around numbers with 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while Quinahan came up with 23 markers and seven boards.
All along, Washington was confined on the bench.
Then he seized the moment when he came in the final eight minutes.(SB)
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 98 - Johnson 27, Tiu 12, Washington 10, Almazan 12, Norwood 9, Belga 7, Yap 5, Nambatac 4, Ponferada 3, Onwubere 3, Casi?o 2, Ahanmisi 2, Daquioag 2.
NLEX 97 - Moultrie 24, Qui?ahan 23, Ravena 23, Soyud 10, Tiongson 5, Monfort 3, Ighalo 3, Mallari 3, Taulava 0, Rios 0, Miranda 0, Gotladera 0, Buenafe 0.
Quarterscores: 23-22, 45-46, 72-77, 98-97.
