MANILA — Paul Lee stayed hot for a second straight game to once again lead the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to victory, turning back the tenacious GlobalPort Batang Pier, 104-98, Friday night in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Lee banged in a team-high 25 points – including five three-pointers, a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line as well as crucial baskets in the endgame – to stop a ferocious late-game comeback by the Batang Pier. Import Rick Jackson added 16 points, 18 rebounds and six assists as the Painters improved to a 2-1 win-loss card. The Painters were at their deadliest in the third quarter when they outscored the Batang Pier 22-6 to take a 17-point lead, 75-58. GlobalPort came charging back in the payoff period as Terrence Romeo drilled back-to-back three-pointers to bring the Batang Pier to within three points, 91-88, with 1:32 remaining. Rain or Shine's Jonathan Uyloan responded with a shot clock-beating triple of his own, and then Jackson converted two free throws as the Painters appeared to have iced the game. But Romeo wasn't done yet as he nailed two more three-pointers followed by a split from the charity stripe by GlobalPort import CJ Leslie and a putback by Stanley Pringle, cutting Rain or Shine's lead to three points with less than 20 seconds left. But Lee finally sealed the win with two more free throws, followed by a split from the line by Uyloan who finished with seven points. Jervy Cruz added 10 markers for Rain or Shine. Romeo and Leslie scored 29 points apiece in a losing cause for GlobalPort which fell to a 1-2 mark. Pringle added 16 points. Purefoods 98, Blackwater 86 Marqus Blakely played his last game for the Purefoods Star Hotshots by scoring a team-high 23 points to overwhelm the outclassed Blackwater Elite, 98-86. Blakely will be giving way to Purefoods' original import Daniel Orton after leading the Hotshots to a 3-0 start in the conference. Blakely also finished with 14 rebounds, four assists and three assists. He drew big support from five Hotshots who also scored in double digits. Marc Pingris finished with 14 points while Mark Barroca added 13. Allein Maliksi and Justin Melton chipped in with 12 points apiece. Marcus Douthit tried to play a one-man army for Blackwater, finishing with 30 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, and a steal. Brian Faundo added 14 points off the bench while Brian Heruela scored 10 points. Blackwater continued its winless streak for the season as it notched its third straight loss in the conference. Game Saturday: Alaska Aces vs. NLEX Road Warriors.
