Sports: First PBA Crown For Rain Or Shine
Finally, after three tries, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters won the
season-ending Governors’ Cup title of the Philippine Basketball Association’s
37th campaign with a momentous Game 7 victory over B-Meg.
During last Sunday’s final game of the 2011-12 season, Rain or Shine mustered enough strength and courage in scoring a masterful 83-76 triumph over the Llamados at the jampacked Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The victory gave the Elasto Painters a tough 4-3 series victory over the hard fighting Llamados who trailed the Elasto Painters, 3-1, after losing Games 3 and 4. B-Meg, however, won the next two outings to tie the series at 3-all.
In Game 6, with their backs against the wall, B-Meg bamboozled Rain or Shine with a barrage of three-pointers during the match as Coach Tim Cone’s charges scored a 97-81 demolition of the Elasto Painters.
In that particular game at the Big Dome, B-Meg lived another day by subduing a hapless Rain or Shine side in hitting 11 treys as against the Elasto Painters’ five triples.
Import Marqus Blakely and Jonas Villanueva each had three treys during the match while James Yap and Peter June Simon had a pair of triples apiece for Cone. Josh Urbiztondo added another shot from beyond the arc for the Llamados.
But in last Sunday’s deciding match, Rain or Shine was never threatened from the start for the climactic win to ensure the Asian Coatings Philippines Incorporated franchise’ first ever PBA diadem since joining the league in 2006.
Best Import of the Conference winner Jamelle Cornley led the Rain or Shine onslaught with his 20 points and 14 rebounds,while Negrense Jeff Chan added 16 markers and was named the Finals Most Valuable Player.
Gabe Norwood also had a breakout game in the series as he chipped in 15 points for winning mentor Yeng Guiao, the current vice governor of Pampanga province in Central Luzon, who won his first PBA title with the Elasto Painters after his winning ways ended with Red Bull a few seasons back.
With his latest Rain or Shine titular win, Guiao has now won a total of five PBA crowns: one with Swift, three with Red Bull and another one for the Terry Que and Raymond Yu-owned Elasto Painters.
The complete roster of players for the winning ballclub include Cornley, Chan, Norwood, skipper Jireh Ibañes, Beau Belga, Jervy Cruz, TY Tang, Ronjay Buenafe, Ryan Arana, JR Quiñahan, Chito Jaime, Larry Rodriguez, Ronnie Matias and Rookie of the Year winner Paul Lee.
Congratulations Rain or Shine for the victory! Welcome to the PBA Winning Team list...
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