Rain or Shine seals deal for first PBA title since 2012

MANILA : With its outside guns on target and playing defense with a no-prisoners mentality, Rain or Shine on Wednesday night crowned itself king of the PBA hill once again.
Paul Lee led the Elasto Painters in a torrid outside shooting display and the rest of the team gobbled up practically all of the Aces’ chief gunners to score an authoritative 109-92 victory for the Commissioner’s Cup title at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The 6-foot Lee destroyed the Alaska defense with 2:10 left in the third quarter, scoring an eye-popping 15 straight points that had the Painters breaking free from what had been a tight game for an eventual 4-2 victory in the best-of-seven series and Rain or Shine’s second franchise title.
It was the first championship for the Painters since the 2012 Governors’ Cup, and this one was equally sweet since they beat a classy team like the Aces, who refused to say die despite falling 0-3 down and making a series out of it by winning Games 4 and 5.
“It took a while, but we were able to get the job done,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao told reporters after the din of the celebration on the floor died down. “The measure of your success is on what team you beat. Alaska is a great team and that put more value to this championship.”
Lee completed a three-point play off Chris Banchero with 2:10 remaining in the opening period and was fired up because the foul that the Alaska guard gave up sort of looked dangerous that Lee had a different look in his eyes after that.
He then turned magnificent and, that early, looked like he put the game away all by himself for Rain or Shine.
With the swagger that only he can display, Lee connected on four straight three-pointers, capped by one over Alaska import Rob Dozier, as the Painters closed out the first period sitting on a 38-24 lead.
Lee then made it 17 straight points for Rain or Shine – and himself – in the Painters’ first possession in the second and the Aces would never come closer than 10 the rest of the way.
Rain or Shine maintained complete command even with Lee needing to be recalled to the bench because of three fouls as Jericho Cruz, Raymond Almazan and several more took turns in doing damage to Alaska.
Cruz scored 17 points in the final three periods and help Rain or Shine total 15 triples for the game, matching the all-time Finals record for the second time in the series after having the same in Game 3.
Calvin Abueva paced the Aces with 26 points but fouled out with just under two minutes remaining, with rookie Kevin Racal contributing 15 and RJ Jazul 14.
Alaska, to its credit, didn’t stop fighting despite being down big for most of the night.
“That’s the team of the future,” Guiao would later say after the Aces lost in a title series for the fourth straight time under Alex Compton, whom the Rain or Shine coach credited for Alaska’s consistency.
“His coaching is carrying the team all throughout. It’s a great organization. We’re proud that we’re able to come out winners in this series,” Guiao said.
Rain or Shine managed to turn back the Aces despite having the lowest-scoring import to ever play in a champion team.
Pierre Henderson-Niles scored just seven points that went with nine rebounds and three turnovers, and Guiao said he’s now experienced both worlds after winning his first title with disbanded Swift with one of the best-scoring imports the league has seen in Tony Harris.
“This is something unique. He is not the stereotype import,” Guiao said of Henderson-Niles. “The proof of the pudding is in the eating, he is 10-3 (since coming over as a replacement for Mo Charlo) and that is a great record anywhere, including the championship.
“How can you argue with a record like that?”