ROS leans on sturdy ‘Tree’ in the middle, young guns to frustrate NLEX

Demetrius Treadwell lived up to his ‘Tree’ nickname and proved to be an immovable force in the interior to help Rain or Shine complete a come-from-behind 113-101 victory over NLEX in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Friday, Dec. 8.

Treadwell anchored his team on both ends of the floor, keeping it afloat in the first three quarters before Keith Datu, Rey Nambatac and Andrei Caracut became the tip of the Elasto Painters’ spear in the furious fourth quarter rally.

The burly Rain or Shine import also dropped his best performance so far with 23 points along with 18 rebounds all while manning the paint for the Elasto Painters who notched their second-straight win to keep themselves very much in contention for a playoff spot despite a 0-5 start to the conference.

Caracut and Nambatac who took turns in rallying Rain or Shine back into the game after trailing by double-digits in the third quarter, finished with 12 apiece while Datu added 11 markers built on three triples – two of which he drained during a back-breaking 22-7 rally for the Elasto Painters to open the payoff period.

The run turned an even 84-all contest into a massive 106-91 lead with a little over three minutes left on the clock.

NLEX cut the deficit down to single digits behind back-to-back triples from Don Trollano and import Stokley Chaffee Jr, but Datu retaliated with his third booming triple in the quarter to slam the door on the Road Warriors.

Beau Belga chipped in 14 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the field including three triples for Rain or Shine.

Chaffee Jr. led NLEX with 32 points and eight rebounds while Trollano wound up with 21 in another losing effort for the Road Warriors who slipped down to a 2-5 record after absorbing three-straight losses.