By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

BLACKWATER ELITE’s slip-up in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup was capped at one game after bouncing back with a 98-92 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Absorbed their first defeat in the midseason PBA tournament last time around, the Elite (3-1) got off to a strong start against the Elasto Painters and hang on late in the game to book the rebound win.

Getting a big boost from its bench, notably from Allein Maliksi and Roi Sumang, Blackwater dictated the tempo of the contest in the opening half.

The Elite battled the Elasto Painters in the early goings of the first quarter but a strong finish pushed them to a 24-17 lead after 12 minutes.

In the second frame, Blackwater continued to hold sway, padding its advantage to double digits, 50-40, by the halftime break.

Rain or Shine tried to claw its way back to begin the third quarter on the lead of import Denzel Bowles and big man Beau Belga.

It managed to come within five points, 55-50, with 5:50 to go in the quarter.

However, another strong finishing kick, in the form of a 21-10 run, would see the Elite creating another separation, 76-60, two-thirds into the match.

The Elasto Painters angled to mount an uprising to start the fourth canto but the Elite had answers for every move the former made to stay in command.

The count was at 87-74 with six minutes remaining after which Rain or Shine made a last-ditch effort to come back.

It narrowed the gap to four points, 96-92, with 10 seconds left but the Elasto Painters were not to get any closer than that as the Elite went for the closeout from there.

Mr. Maliksi led Blackwater with 19 points followed by Ray Parks Jr. and Michael DiGregorio with 16 points apiece.

Import Alex Stepheson only had 13 points but had 20 rebounds. Roi Sumang had 11 points and seven assists for the Elite.

For Rain or Shine (0-2), it was Mr. Bowles who led with 27 points with James Yap finishing with 15 and Mark Borboran and Ed Daquioag 10 points each.

“It was just total team effort for us. When Rain or Shine was coming back we said to ourselves that we have to stick to our execution and our defense and it paid off,” said player-of-the-game Maliksi in the post-game interview.

Blackwater returns to play on June 8 versus the still-winless NLEX Road Warriors (0-4) on June 8 while Rain or Shine plays a day earlier on June 7 against the defending champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (2-1).

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