MANILA -- Rain Or Shine (ROS) almost squandered a comfortable lead after the third quarter but held on to an 82-79 win in the main game of the PBA Philippine Cup doubleheader at the Cuneta Astrodome on Friday night.
The Elasto Painters entered the final frame leading by 11, but the KaTropa put up a fight in the period only to falter in the end.
ROS held a 62-51 lead at the end of the third quarter, but TNT began the fourth with a 17-4 run to take a 68-66 lead.
The E-Painters answered with a 10-0 rally to retake the lead, 76-68.
The KaTropa stayed close and had a chance to force overtime, after Raymond Almazan lost the ball after getting double-teamed.
Kelly Williams, however, missed an open triple just before time expired, letting ROS escape.
Beau Belga put up 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting with five rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal for the Elasto Painters.
Rey Nambatac made five markers and five caroms in his debut.
Jayson Castro had a near triple-double for the KaTropa with 18 markers, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, while RR Pogoy had his own double-double of 16 points and 10 boards.
Box 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.
TNT 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 (PNA)
