JEFFREI Chan went to work in the endgame, scoring the bulk of his points in the final half to lead the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters over the Alaska Aces, 107-100, at the start of the 37th PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The lefty shooter Chan scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half as he ably backed import Jamelle Cornley for a game-high 27 points.
The Aces trailed by as many as 23 points in the first half but rallied in the third and trimmed the gap, 60-64, when Chan started making clutch baskets.
Chan nailed a three-pointer to slow down the rallying Aces then delivered a rare four-point play in the closing seconds of the period, allowing the Painters to restore sizable lead going into the fourth, 78-63.
Chan would score 10 more points in the fourth, punctuated by shotclock-beating trifecta that gave Rain or Shine a 105-95 lead inside the final minute.
Paul Lee and Ryan Araña contributed 17 and 11 markers for Rain or Shine. Making several thunderous dunks, Jason Forte led the Aces with 25 points.
Cyrus Baguio finished with 19 points, LA Tenorio scored 16, while Sonny Thoss and Mac Baracael had 15 and 13 for the Aces, who lost their first game under new head coach Luigi Trillo.
Gabby Espinas debuted for the Aces with just six points.
BOX SCORES
RAIN OR SHINE (107)- Cornely 27, Chan 20, Lee 17, Arana 11, Quinahan 7, Belga 6, Buenafe 6, Cruz 5, Norwood 3, Ibanes 3, Tang 2, Matias 0.
ALASKA (100)- Forte 25, Baguio 19, Tenorio 16, Thoss 15, Baracael 13, Espinas 6, Custodio 4, Gonzales 2, Eman 0, Salamat 0.
QUARTERSCORES: 32-17, 53-35, 78-63, 107-100. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA