Rain or Shine defeated the All-Filipino champion San Miguel Beer during the Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semi-finals and clinched the first finals berth of the second conference of the PBA. The game ended with the final score of 124-99 in favor of the Tropang Texters in the best-of-seven series held on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
During the Game 4 of the semi-finals series, San Miguel got the service of veteran import Arizona Reid as the replacement of Tyler Wilkerson but his effort was not enough for the determined Elasto Painters who paraded to the PBA finals and will try to win the title it lost last season of the PBA.
The victory of Rain or Shine was instrumental also for the team as they denied the San Miguel Beermen’s dream of making another Grand Slam title. San Miguel tried to bounce back in the semis by defeating the Elasto Painters in Game 3 of the semis with the final score of 104-98.
Veteran guards Paul Lee and Chris Tiu led the charge for the Elasto Painters as they provide leadership in the second quarter of the game to take a 46-32 lead midway in the pivotal period.
San Miguel still tried to get back in the game, trimming the deficit down to 12 in the third quarter, but Rain or Shine showed great resolve and brought its lead back to 22, 92-70, at the end of the quarter.
Paul Lee registered a series-best 18 point, on 6-of-9 shooting from the field that went with five rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench while Pierre Henderson-Niles dominated the Beermen’s frontline, posting 15 points and 14 rebounds with four steals to boot.
Due to the semi-finals victory of Rain or Shine they will face the winner of the other semis matchup between the Alaska Aces and the Meralco Bolts, with the Aces holding a 2-1 advantage in their best-of-five series.
The Scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 124 – Lee 18, Henderson-Niles 15, Norwood 15, Tiu 13, Cruz 12, Almazan 10, Ahanmisi 9, Quiñahan 8, Chan 6, Ponferrada 5, Belga 4, Ibañes 3, Nimes 2, Teng 2, Trollano 2.
SAN MIGUEL 99 – Reid 25, Lassiter 20, Cabagnot 18, Fajardo 12, Espinas 6, Ross 6, Santos 6, David 5, De Ocampo 1, Arana 0, Heruela 0, Tubid 0.
Quarters: 23-22, 61-42, 92-70, 124-99