PBA On Tour: Balanced Rain or Shine beats NorthPort in Yeng Guiao’s absence

July 19, 2023 Times Europe

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MANILA, Philippines-Rain or Shine bucked the absence of coach Yeng Guiao by overcoming NorthPort, 118-112, to get back on winning track in the PBA On Tour on Wednesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Six players scored in double figures in another usual balanced attack on the offensive side as the Elasto Painters got their seventh victory in nine outings with assistant coach Mike Buendia calling the shots.

Buendia was handed the reins with Guiao currently in Bali, Indonesia for a family vacation and lead assistant Caloy Garcia currently in Japan for La Salle’s UAAP build-up.

“You got to give credit to the players because they played with a lot of effort, especially after coming off a loss,” said Buendia as Rain or Shine would despite a couple of tries by NorthPort to erase a big deficit.

Santi Santillan had 20 points, six rebounds while Anton Asistio scored 17 for Rain or Shine, which bounced back from Saturday’s loss to unbeaten Magnolia in Dumaguete City.

The Elasto Painters prevailed on the day after announcing that they had accepted an invitation to take part in next month’s William Jones Cup in Taiwan.

Plans are for Rain or Shine to take a short rest once the On Tour campaign concludes before starting its short Jones Cup prep on Aug. 7 with import Ange Kouame.

The Jones Cup, back after a four-year absence, is set August 12 to 20.

JM Calma posted a double-double with 22 points and 16 rebounds, Arvin Tolentino dropped 20 and Fran Yu posted 19 points, four assists and five steals, but NorthPort fell to 5-5 with a game left in the exhibition series.