Caracut Andrei Caracut of Rain or Shine dribbles against Andreas Cahilig of Terrafirma in this bit of action in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Arena. PBA photo

Norwood takes charge as Rain or Shine snaps losing skid

August 1, 2021 Ed Andaya 760 views

WHEN there’s a game on the line, expect Gabe Norwood to take over.

Norwood provided the energy as Rain or Shine battled back from an early double-digit deficit to beat Terrafirma, 83-77, and snap a two-game losing skid in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Norwood was at his best when the Elasto Painters erupted for 22 points in the fourth quarter to frustrate the Dyip and raise their record to four wins aganst two losses.

More importantly, the win ended the Elasto Painters’ two-game slide that started with a franchise-worst loss to Alaska Milk last July 28.

Norwood, a seven-time PBA All-Defensive Team member, said defense fired up their offense.

“I think we really picked it up on the defensive end. Terrafirma came out and executed everything they wanted to and they were making us pay. But we finally made stops and usually our defense leads to offense and that’s exactly what happened in the fourth quarter, said Norwood.

“We just have to be consistent in putting the ball in the basket and I think we’ll be fine from there.”

Also helping Rain or Shine’s cause was Rey Nambatac, who also snapped out of his shooting slump with a team-high 17 points.

Norwood had season-high 15 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, a far cry from his season averages of five points and five rebounds.

Juami Tiongson finished with 20 points and seven assists for Terrafirma.

Last year’s top overall pick Roosevelt Adams had 13 points and 16 rebounds in a losing effort.

Tiongson and JP Calvo were mainly instrumental in giving the Dyip as much as a 41-26 lead.

Terrafirma, which sorely missed the services of top overall pick Joshua Munzon and Rashawn McCarthy, dropped to 0-4 overall.

Munzon is reportedly out for at least a month after hurting his finger in Terrafirma’s loss to Magnolia in the previous game.

“Terrafirma made us fight until the end. That top ball screen action of theirs, they were executing it well with Juami and Calvo in the first half, and we didn’t have an answer. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter where we started trapping them, and we were able to get all defensive stops,” Rain or Shine coach Chris Gavina told sportswriters.

“We utilized our defensive energy to kind of fire up our offense,” added Gavina, who was appointed as head coach only this year.

In the second game, Talk N Text subdued Phoenix Super LPG, 84-80, to pick up its third straight win on coach Chot Reyes ‘ 58th birthday.

Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy and Jayson Castro combined for 38 points for the Tropang Giga, who played catch-up after falling behind by as many as 16 points early in the first period.

Rosario led all scorers with 15 points, including 10 in the payoff period.

Pogoy added 13 points, seven in the fourth quarter, while Castro contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and nine assists for the Tropang Giga.

Matthew Wright had 15 markers for Phoenix, which dropped to 1-4.

The scores:

Rain or Shine (83) — Nambatac 17, Norwood 15, Wong 15, Borboran 9, Mocon 7, Torres 6, Santillan 6, Belga 4, Caracut 2, Ponferada 2, Guinto 0, Johnson 0.
Terrafirma (77) — Tiongson 20, Adams 13, Calvo 11, Batiller 10, Gabayni 10, Camson 7, Ramos 4, Cahilig 2, Laput 0.
Quarterscores: 21-27, 40-45, 61-65, 83-77.

Second game

Talk N Text (84) — Rosario 15, Pogoy 13, Castro 10, Khobuntin 9, M.Williams 9, K.Williams 8, M. Marcelo 6, Marcelo 6, Montalbo 5, Exciminiano 3, Alejandro 3, Erram 3, Heruela 0.
Phoenix (80) — Wright 15, Perkins 14, Manuel 13, Banchero 12, Melecio 11, Jazul 6, Pascual 3, Demusis 2, Chua 2, , Rios 2, Garcia 0.
Quarterscores: 17-26; 40-45; 60-63; 84-80.

Games Wednesday:

(Ynares Sports Arena-Pasig)
12:30 p.m. — Talk N Text vs. Blackwater
3 p.m. — NLEX vs. Meralco
6 p.m. — Phoenix vs. Terrafirma

AUTHOR PROFILE