ROS weathers storm

May 8, 2025 | 12:00am

Datu, Nocum lead E-Painters Past Bossing

MANILA, Philippines — Despite receiving a barrage of long-distance bombs from Blackwater throughout, Rain or Shine kept at it.

And when an opportunity to strike opened in the fourth, the Elasto Painters made the most out of it and ran away with a 120-106 bounceback win in the PBA Philippine Cup last night.

With the game tied at 102-all, Yeng Guiao’s charges cranked it up defensively and unleashed an Adrian Nocum-led 18-4 blast in the last 6:19 to put this one to bed.

ROS got back on track and improved to 3-2 overall despite the Bossing torching the Ninoy Aquino Stadium’s baskets with a 3-of-7 clip from the four-point arc (42.9 percent) and a 15-of-37 marksmanship from the three-point line (40.5 percent).

“We’re able to weather the storm – ‘yung shooting nila, masyadong maganda. They were making their threes, they were making even their fours,” said Guiao, whose team finally reached full strength level with Beau Belga (vertigo) and Caelan Tiongson (back spasm) back from injuries.

“Sabi ko lang, we were playing at the pace that we wanted. Maybe in the fourth quarter, we’ll get a break. And true enough, we played better defense in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter. They put in all in the second half. So nalampasan namin ‘yung torrid shooting percentage nila.”

The E-Painters trailed by as many as nine in the first half, keeping afloat behind Keith Datu’s solid performance.  They came out of the halftime huddle with more fire and tied it all up in the third after a 31-23 exchange before sealing the deal with a 29-15 closeout.

“We’re able to pull through with patience, keeping the pace quick, working hard off the board so we can get out in transition,” said Guiao.

Later, NLEX (4-1) overcame a furious rally from 17 down by Barangay Ginebra and completed an 89-86 escape act.

Robert Bolick rifled in 28 highlighted by a booming triple and insurance free throws in the crunch to preserve the Road Warriors’ fourth straight W and send the Gin Kings to 2-2.

Datu posted a career-high 27 points with eight rebounds to pace six other ROS players in double figures - Nocum (23), birthday boy Tiongson (14), Gian Mamuyac (11), Andrei Caracut (11), Jhonard Clarito (10) and Leonard Santillan (10-9).

Christian David and Sedrick Barefield fired 28 and 23 points, respectively, in their comeback games for the Bossing, who fell to back-to-back losses and 1-4.

Guiao was glad to have Belga and Tiongson back,  especially after ROS badly lost the battle for the rebounds in their previous 97-107 setback to Converge.

“Medyo nakakatakbo na kami ngayon. Against Converge, hindi talaga kami makatakbo kasi hindi maka-rebound.  Dalawang tao sa kanila, halos katumbas ng isang team namin sa rebound. Thirty-nine rebounds si (Justin) Arana at saka si Balty (Justine Baltazar), ‘yung buong team namin 40,” said Guiao.