Paul Lee shoots Rain or Shine past San Mig Coffee in Friday thriller



Rain or Shine squandered an early double-digit lead before waking up in time to turn back San Mig Coffee, 86-83, in PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup action on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

“We’re just lucky to get away with the win,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

The game didn’t look like it was going to be a thriller early on, after Paul Lee scored 12 points in the first period that saw the Elasto Painters race to a 12-2 lead to begin the game.

But the Mixers slowly chipped away at the deficit, cutting the Rain or Shine lead to just four points, 38-34, at halftime.

San Mig Coffee even took the lead for an instant, 59-57, late in the third quarter before Rain or Shine regained the upper hand heading into the final period.

But the Mixers wouldn’t just go away, cutting the margin to a single point, 75-74, with less than four minutes left.

With Rain or Shine under fire, Lee nailed a three-pointer off the backboard to beat the shotclock buzzer, a shot that Guiao described as “a lucky shot.”

“That’s really our biggest break,” said Guiao.

That basket touched off an 8-2 run with Lee scoring all the points for the Elasto Painters that gave them an 83-76 lead with just 1:39 to play.

But San Mig Coffee was still not done. Mark Barroca, who finished with 23 points to lead the Mixers, hit a three-pointer to cut the Rain or Shine lead to just four, 83-79, with still 1:08 left.

The Mixers then forced a turnover, which Marc Pingris converted to cut the deficit to a single basket.

Jeff Chan scored two free throws for Rain or Shine, before Pingris hit another basket with 11 seconds remaining.

Gabe Norwood had a chance to ice the game, but he muffed two free throws, giving San Mig Coffee a golden opportunity. But Barroca missed a layup that could have tied the game with four seconds left, and Lee grabbed the rebound off the ring.

The Mixers sent Lee to the line, and the hotshot guard split his free throws. Joe Devance’s desperation shot at the buzzer failed to hit the target, allowing Rain or Shine to escape with the victory.

Lee finished with 26 points on 5-of-9 three-point shooting to break out of his conference-long slump. Chan added 11 points for the Elasto Painters, whose win-loss record improved to 4-1.

Peter June Simon scored 18 points for San Mig Coffee. Marc Pingris (12 points, 12 rebounds) and the returning Joe Devance (11 points, 11 rebounds) each had double-doubles for the Mixers, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

Source: Paul Lee shoots Rain or Shine past San Mig Coffee in Friday thriller | InterAksyon.com | Sports5
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