MANILA – With Jeff Chan's career-high 35-point output, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters dodged a bullet to escape with a 99-98 win in overtime against the relentless Air21 Express Friday in the 2012-2013 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. Chan completed his heroics by drilling a fade-away jumper with 15 seconds left in overtime. Air21 still had a chance to turn the tables on Rain or Shine but Wynne Arboleda's shot hit nothing but air. The Elasto Painters could have finished off the Express in the fourth quarter as they led by five, 93-88, with just 23 seconds remaining. But Air21's Nelbert Omolon scored on a three-point play with 10 seconds left to cut Rain or Shine's lead to two. The Express then fouled Beau Belga to send the burly Rain or Shine center to the charity stripe. Belga split his free throws to give Rain or Shine a three-point lead, 94-91. In Air21's ensuing possession, Arboleda zipped down court and rifled a pass to KG Canaleta who knocked in a 25-foot triple at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. Gabe Norwood and Jervy Cruz chipped in 12 points apiece as the Elasto Painters notched their second win in three games. John Wilson led Air21 with 21 points as the Express suffered their second lost in three games. In the opening game of Friday's twinbill, Jayson Castro exploded for 30 points to power the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters to a scary 108-104 victory against the winless GlobalPort Batang Pier. It was the second straight cliffhanger win for the Texters who defeated the Meralco Bolts in overtime, 112-110, in their first game of the conference last Friday. TNT thus joined the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings at the top of the standings. Despite missing the services of their injured top gunner Gary David, the Batang Pier nearly pulled a major upset as they battled the defending champion Tropang Texters on even terms nearly throughout the match. GlobalPort even led, 104-101, with less than three minutes left. But the Texters quickly regained the lead with Castro drilling four straight points. After the Batang Pier failed to score in their next possessions, Ranidel de Ocampo sealed the win for TNT with a triple with 9.2 seconds left. Ryan Reyes and Larry Fonacier chipped in 19 points apiece for TNT. The win was the first in this PBA season for new TNT head coach Norman Black who only a day before guided the Ateneo Blue Eagles to their fifth straight championship in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Willie Miller led GlobalPort with 22 points while rookie Vic Manuel contributed 20. Their third straight loss dropped the Batang Pier to the bottom of the standings.
