Beau Belga bulked up for the season in preparation for tougher, harder matchups. And he was up to task at least in their season debut.
The former Philippine Christian U stalwart came through with 14 points and five rebounds, and nailed a big trey in their crucial run entering the homestretch as Rain or Shine smothered TNT KaTropa, 82-79, for a winning start in the 2017-18 PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome Friday night.
Sophomore pro Ed Daquiaog also drained a trey while Maverick Ahanmisi scored on a reversed layup in their key attack from a 68-all standoff, and the Elasto Painters rolled on for a winning start in the tourney where they finished eighth last year.
Belga, Chris Tiu, Raymond Almazan and Gabe Norwood paced the E-Painters with a combined output of 48 points as the E-Painters overcame the TNT squad which narrowly missed the Philippine Cup finals last year.
"Sabi ko sa mga players we practiced hard for one month at huwag nilang sayangin," said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia.
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"It's good to start the season with a win, but ang daming lapses. We can't win lots of games if we continue this way," Garcia added.
Still, the E-Painters beat out the Texters.
Almazan, barely back from an injury, delivered a double-double performance with 11 points and 10 rebounds, Tiu contributed two three-pointers and a total of 12 markers while Norwood chipped in 11 points, four rebounds, two steals and one assist against one turnover.
The E-Painters didn't lack bench support as they set the pace most of the way and pulled the rug from under the TNT squad fancied to make a strong start coming from its Lithuanian offseason training.
The Texters fought back from 11 points down but failed to send the game into overtime as Kelly Williams muffed a three-point attempt at endgame.
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Ahanmisi snared the rebound, and the E-Painters scored a repeat against the Texters whom they beat in their most recent Philippine Cup matchup.
Both teams showed strong motivation to win from the start, so much so that a pair of double technical fouls was whistled right in the opening period.
Williams and Belga incurred the first double-Ts then Moala Tautuaa and Dexter Maiquez.
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 82 - Belga 14, Tiu 12, Norwood 11, Almazan 11, Ahanmisi 9, Daquioag 8, Nambatac 5, Borboran 5, Trollano 4, Ponferada 3, Yap 0, Maiquez 0.
TALK N' TEXT 79 - Castro 18, Pogoy 16, Semerad 13, Williams 11, Rosario 8, Reyes 7, Torres 4, Tautuaa 2, Tallo 0, Nuyles 0, Carey 0.
Quarterscores: 20-20, 43-37, 62-51, 82-79.
