The Blackwater Elite is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Rain or Shine (ROS) Elasto Painters at 10 AM on November 8, 2020, live from the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
In what seems to be a “walk in the park” match already for the Elite over the struggling and winless Dyip, given their respective win-loss record and position in the standings, the tables have suddenly turned, and the underdog Terrafirma won against Blackwater, 110-101.
CJ Perez and Juami Tiongson took charge in the endgame as the Dyip recovered from another third-quarter collapse to get the job done this time and taste victory after a string of seven losses.
In the third frame, the Elite took charge with a 36-point quarter to turn a nine-point deficit into an 81-80 lead. Nino Canaleta scored 12 of his game-high 29 during that span to turn Blackwater’s fortunes around.
Unfortunately for Blackwater, Terrafirma fought back and drew back-to-back threes from Tiongson and Adams to regain control, 86-83, early in the fourth before leaning on Perez to answer the Elite, who rode a red-hot Canaleta operating in the post to keep the Blackwater offense afloat.
In the payoff period, Perez and Tiongson dropped nine points each as they closed it out for a Terrafirma side that kept its slim hopes of a quarterfinal stint alive with the noontime W.
The Elite dropped to 2-6 win-loss, their shot at the quarters becoming thin.
Similarly, the E-Painters, now with a 4-4 win-loss record, also failed to secure a win in their previous outing.
Paul Lee’s big-time performance, nearly outscoring the entire ROS team in the first half, is just too much for the Caloy Garcia-coached team. Lee fired away 31 points and hit two clutch fadeaways in the final minute to propel his team to victory. He went 11-for-17 from the field, including three treys, alongside five rebounds and two assists.
After being down by as many as 20 points, Rain or Shine tried to claw its way back into the game. But Lee took matters into his own hands. Staring at just a four-point advantage 66-62, Lee connected on a tough jump shot amid the tight defense to extend the lead. The veteran guard then put the icing on the cake by drilling the dagger fadeaway with 41 ticks left on the clock.
Kris Rosales top-scored for Rain or Shine with 14 points, including 12 in the third quarter when Rain or Shine came within 10 points entering the fourth, 56-46.
Jewel Ponferada added 13 points, his two free throws cutting Magnolia’s lead to one, 62-61, before Lee’s heroics.
Tough as the situation may be, the Elite vowed to fight to the very end.
“Finish strong, regardless. That’s how we want to approach the next three games,” said a defiant coach Nash Racela.
Expect a thug-of-war match between these two teams later.