Painters stun TNT

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters scored a less expected blowout win against the league-leading Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters. And as if scoring a lopsided victory wasn’t enough, the Painters did it without their head coach Yeng Guiao.

Fired up by the suspension of bench tactician, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters pummeled the grand slam-seeking Texters, 96-81, to bag their first semifinal win in the 36th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Araneta Coliseum, last night.

Import Arizona Reid pumped in 30 points and 20 rebounds as the Painters bounced back from their sorry 98-99 loss to the B-Meg Llamados last Friday.

The Painters evened their record to 5-5 (win-loss), while pulling the Texters down to 7-3.

Despite the loss, the Texters still lead the standings but could lose sole possession of the top spot should the Barangay Ginebra Kings triumph in their game against the Petron Blaze Boosters, which was still being played as of press time last night.

Ginebra went into the match with a 6-3 slate.

Painters coach Guiao was suspended for one game and was fined P30,000 for his outburst in the team’s encounter with the Llamados.

The sanction was for making actions and statements deemed detrimental to the interest of the league, said PBA Commissioner Chito Salud.

“During the game, he (Guiao) kept yelling ‘Walang dayaan! Walang dayaan!’,” Salud recalled. “I consider those utterances as acts that are detrimental and prejudicial to the best interest of the league because there are insinuations that I’m favoring the other team. That’s the reason why I suspended him.”

Salud said the fine was slapped after Guiao accosted a member of the technical group.

Guiao’s absence turned out to be the spark that Rain or Shine needed to keep its semifinal hopes alive.

“That (Guiao’s suspension) motivated us,” said Reid, who shot 13-for-28 from the field.

The Painters led from start to finish and used a 13-2 run to erect an insurmountable  94-67 lead in the final 3:59.

Scottie Reynolds topped the Texters with 18 points while Ryan Reyes added 15.

BOX SCORES

RAIN OR SHINE (96)- Reid 30, Chan 12, Cruz 10, Tang 10, Buenafe 10, Arana 9, Belga 6, Norwood 3, Rodriguez 3, Ibanes 3, Vanlandingham 0, Jazul 0, Matias 0, Ferriols 0.

TALK N’ TEXT (81)- Reynolds 18, Reyes 15, Carey 9, Yee 8, Williams 8, Peek 6, Alapag 5, Oreta 4, Castro 3, Dillinger 2, Fonacier 2, Alvarez 1, Aban 0, Lao 0. QUARTERSCORES: 28-20, 53-37, 75-55, 96-81.