The game nearly turned ugly the closing seconds when Sol Mercado confronted Roger Yap after a botched play by the Elasto Painters.
“We expected a tough Game 1 because momentum was on their side,” said Purefoods head coach Ryan Gregorio in the post-game interview referring to Rain or Shine’s back-to-back wins in the wildcard that got the Elasto Painters in the playoffs.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is scheduled Sunday also at the Big Dome.
The Elasto Painters, the first ninth seeded team to make the wildcard since Sta. Lucia Realty in the 2008 Fiesta Conference, stayed close throughout the game but the Giants’ defense kept them from taking control.
The Giants appeared rusty coming off a week-long break but James Yap found his offensive rhythm early to help Purefoods got off to good start.
With his domestic problems apparently resolved, James Yap shot 12 of 21 including 3 of 5 3-pointers. He also had three assist and one block.
It was the 2006 league MVP’s 18th 30-plus game in the league.
“Probably his mind is clear now. Besides he knows we’re counting on him to get us to the next level,” said Gregorio of his superstar shooter.
The Purefoods coach maintained though that defense will be their key to winning this series.
“At the locker room I told the players that if we’re gonna win this game it will be with our defense. And true enough, we made key stops and crucial blocks in the stretch and that was it.”
A three by Eddie Laure pulled Rain or Shine within 88-85 with 2:04 remaining and the Elast Painters had a chance to move closer when Purefoods missed their next three shots.
But Roger Yap (15 points) underscored Purefoods’ distinction as the conference’s top defensive team by deflecting a pass by Mercado in the closing seconds that took any chance by the Elasto Painters to turn the game around.
Rain or Shine went 10 of 25 from beyond the arc, five more than Purefoods which took 19 attempts from the trifecta zone. But the Elasto Painters shooting went cold late in the fourth quarter when they desperately needed a run.
Purefoods enjoyed the game’s biggest lead at 69-60 late in the third quarter but Rain or Shine rallied behind Mercado, Ryan Arana and Mark Telan, whose 3-pointer tied the count at 73-73 at the end of the period.
Another three by Mercado to open the fourth put Rain or Shine ahead before Marc Pingris made two free throws and Roger Yap hit back-to-back baskets to give the Giants a 79-76 lead.
An undergoal stab by Telan made it a one-point game but Roger Yap and James Yap came through with successive treys and Purefoods took the lead for good.
Arane led Rain or Shine with 19 points while Mercado, who took just 10 attempts, added 17 and six assists.
“We gave Roger (Yap) and the other defenders clips of Rain or Shine’s game against Sta. Lucia and Coca-Cola to show them Mercado’s strong and weak points. I guess that helped us to contain him,” Gregorio said. (DBC)
The scores:
Purefoods 90 – Yap J. 31, Yap R. 17, Raymundo 12, Maierhofer 9, Pingris 6, Reavis 5, Artadi 4, Canaleta 2, Adducul 2, Allado 2, Timberlake 0.
Rain or Shine 85 – Arana 19, Mercado 17, Laure 16, Norwood 12, Telan 9, Reyes 4, Chan 3, Hrabak 3, Ibanes 2, Cruz 0, Alfad 0, Arellano 0.
Quarterscores: 23-22, 51-48, 73-73, 90-85.
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