ADRIAN Nocum was on a mission and he clearly showed it by leading Rain or Shine to a breakthrough 100-85 win over Phoenix Super LPG Sunday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Held to just three points and even fouling out in a 97-109 loss to San Miguel Beer last Friday, Nocum scattered 13 of his game-high 28 points in a fiery second quarter run that lifted the Elasto Painters from a 29-38 deficit and into control of the match.
With Beau Belga and Jhonard Clarito joining the fray, Rain or Shine went on to lead by as much as 100-83 before cruising to their first win after opening up the conference with four straight losses.
Belga had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds while Clarito wound up with 19 and five, helping make up for Leonard Santillan being held to just eight points although he added 10 boards and three steals.
"Previous losses namin we had pretty close games except doon sa San Miguel. Pero before that we just couldn't close out games, we couldn't finish in the endgame. Hirap kami lalo na pagka nagmimintis kami ng free throws," offered a visibly relieved coach Yeng Guiao.
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"We were also not getting our desired percentages sa 3-point shots. Andami naming 3-points na open pero hindi pumapasok. But I just keep telling the guys if you're open for a 3 just keep taking it, huwag ng isipin kung ano percentage," added Guiao.
"So (it) worked out for us. For a while I was worried na baka maulit 'yung sa last conference na 0-5. Pero at least ngayon 1-4."
After making just two triples in their first 12 tries, the E-Painters did get the bombs to fall, finishing with a 13-of-48 clip from beyond the arc.
Aiding the win were a plus-10 advantage in fastbreak points, as well as 16 points off Phoenix's 21 turnovers, 10 of those in the form of steals.
Aside from Tyler Tio, the Fuel Masters also sorely missed top scorer Jason Perkins and Raoul Soyud due to injuries and those absences clearly took their toll on the team that made just 28 out of their 84 field attempts.
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Ricci Rivero's 16 points led the four Phoenix players who scored in double digits and he was main reason the Fuel Masters managed to threaten at 80-86 after trailing by as much as 54-70.
Back-to-back triples by Andrei Caracut and Clarito effectively quashed the uprising, however, and ensured Rain or Shine's first win in five games against Phoenix. (NC)
The Scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 100 - Nocum 28, Belga 21, Clarito 19, Santillan 8, Caracut 6, Belo 5, Mamuyac 4, Borboran 4, Norwood 3, Ildefonso 2, Asistio 0, Demusis 0.
PHEONIX 85 - Rivero 16, Jazul 11, Tuffin 10, Verano 10, Manganti 7, Mocon 6, Alejandro 6, Muyang 5, Daves 4, Salado 3, Camacho 2, Lalata 0.
QUARTERS: 22-29, 47-41, 78-66, 100-85