THE Rain or Shine Elasto Painters led from start to finish to handily defeat the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 106-91, and barge to the semifinal round of the 37th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum, last night.
The Painters swept the best-of-three quarterfinal series, 2-0, to arrange a best-of-seven semis duel with the Powerade Tigers.
Riding the crest of their, 112-105 overtime win in Game 1 where they had to claw back from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit, the Painters handled the Kings with ease in Game 2, never looking back after taking a 41-24 lead after the first period.
The never-say-die spirit that Ginebra is known for never came as they hardly put a resistance in the succeeding minutes and even allowed Rain or Shine to post leads of as many as 23 points in the final period.
Jeff Chan topped the Painters with 22 points, while Ronjay Buenafe, Ronnie Matias, Beau Belga and Ryan Araña also scored in double figures and combined for 48 points.
Mike Cortez paced the Kings with 17 markers.
Ginebra became the second San Miguel Corporation-owned team to be booted out in the tournament after the exit of the B-Meg Llamados.
The Llamados, the number one seed in the playoffs, bungled a twice-to-beat advantage and were eliminated by the Tigers.
The Petron Blaze Boosters, the remaining SMC-owned squad, were still playing the Meralco Bolts as of press time.
Petron went into that game with a 1-0 series lead and was looking for a win that will allow them to play the Talk N Text Tropang Texters in the semis.
BOX SCORES
RAIN OR SHINE (106)- Chan 22, Buenafe 13, Matias 12, Belga 12, Araña 11, Norwood 9, Quiñahan 9, Lee 8, Rodriguez 6, Cruz 4, Tang 0.
GINEBRA (91)- Cortez 17, Canaleta 13, Intal 12, Caguioa 11, Mamaril 10, Labagala 8, Villanueva 8, W. Wilson 6, Helterbrand 6, Tubid 0. QUARTERSCORES: 41-24, 58-37, 78-61, 106-91.