MANILA – Rain Or Shine got timely baskets from Rey Nambatac and Javee Mocon in the endgame to turn back San Miguel, 87-83, in their Philippine Basketball Association showdown at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center on Tuesday night.
Nambatac, who struggled all game long, scored a huge three-pointer with 12.9 seconds left that upped the Elasto Painters' lead to four, 85-81.
Terrence Romeo kept the Beermen in the game with a short jumper with 1.8 seconds to play, but Mocon made two dagger free throws off a crucial foul from Chris Ross to seal the E-Painters' win.
Mocon led ROS, which preserved a hot 15-0 start, with 25 points on 7-of-9 field goals and 8-of-8 free throws with six rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Kris Rosales stepped up in Nambatac's early struggles with 15 points, six rebounds, and one assist.
Marcio Lassiter had 20 points, four rebounds, one assist, and two steals for SMB, which fell to 1-1 in the season.
Mo Tautuaa made 17 markers, 11 boards, and five dimes as his team is reeling from the absence of star center June Mar Fajardo.
The scores:
Rain Or Shine 87 -- Mocon 25, Rosales 15, Belga 12, Borboran 9, Ponferada 7, Onwubere 6, Nambatac 4, Torres 4, Norwood 3, Doliguez 2, Wong 0, Yap 0
San Miguel 83 -- Lassiter 20, Cabagnot 18, Tautuaa 17, Romeo 11, Gamalinda 5, Ross 4, Mamaril 3, Santos 2, Escoto 2, Pessumal 1, Zamar 0, De Guzman 0
Quarterscores: 25-20, 46-41, 67-54, 87-83 (PNA)
