MANILA, Philippines – Deon Thompson is proving to be just what the doctor ordered.
Thompson delivered in his PBA debut as Rain or Shine clinched its first win of the Commissioner’s Cup after trouncing guest team Hong Kong Eastern, 99-81, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, December 4.
A well-traveled import who has stints all over Europe and Asia, Thompson chalked up 21 points, 15 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks for the Elasto Painters, who bounced back from a conference-opening loss to Meralco.
Rain or Shine played without a foreign player in their 121-111 defeat to the Bolts on Sunday, December 1, after bringing in Thompson to replace original import Kenneth Kadji.
“We’re happy with the way he performed,” said Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao of Thompson. “He changes the chemistry for the better. Our ball movement is better with him on the court and he defends well.”
Locals Leonard Santillan and Keith Datu also rose to the occasion as Rain or Shine dealt the foreign squad its first loss.
Santillan netted 18 points and 5 rebounds, while Datu put up 10 points and 8 rebounds — the two combining for 16 points in the decisive fourth quarter where the Elasto Painters outscored Eastern, 29-17, en route to the romp.
Eastern trailed 64-70 entering the final frame before Rain or Shine uncorked a 25-8 run that pushed the Elasto Painters’ lead to its biggest at 95-72.
Caelan Tiongson added 10 points and Shaun Ildefonso chimed in 8 points, all coming in the fourth period, on top of 5 rebounds in the win.
Rain or Shine veteran Beau Belga contributed 5 points in 10 minutes to become the 98th member of the PBA’s 5,000-point club, according to league chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.
Cameron Clark produced a game-high 30 points with 12 rebounds, although he struggled when it mattered most as Eastern dropped to 2-1.
Pouring 14 points in the third quarter to keep the guest team within shouting distance, Clark got limited to just 2 points in the fourth period.
Eastern star Hayden Blankley fired blanks, going a horror 1-of-15 from the field to finish with 7 points, although he grabbed 11 rebounds in the loss where his side missed the presence of starting guard Glen Yang.
Yang sat out due to passport issues.
The Scores
Rain or Shine 99 – Thompson 21, Santillan 18, Datu 10, Tiongson 10, Nocum 8, Ildefonso 8, Caracut 7, Belga 5, Clarito 4, Lemetti 3, Asistio 3, Demnusis 2
Eastern 81 – Clark 30, Cheung 11, Sulaiman 11, Cao 9, Blankley 7, Lam 6, Zhu 5, Guinchard 2, Chan 0, Leung 0, Pok 0, Xu 0.
Quarters: 24-18, 43-34, 70-64, 99-81.
– Rappler.com