Talk ‘N Text’s Ali Peek (left) sends Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood in the air following a fake as Jared Dillinger and Mark Telan look on during PBA action Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum. (Photo by TONY PIONILLA)

Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia preached defense at halftime. The Elasto Painters responded instead with two huge offenses in the next two quarters.

Plastered against the wall after Talk ‘N Text opened a 20-point lead early in the second half, Rain or Shine poured 31 points in the third quarter and 30 in the fourth Wednesday night to post an exhilarating 95-93 upset of the fancied Tropang Texters in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ryan Araña, a second-tier player with De La Salle a few years back, showed up a pair of Green Archer starters by scoring 20 points, 11 coming in the final quarter, including a completed three-point play that gave the Painters a 92-91 edge with 1:12 remaining.

“Kailangan mag-step up dahil kulang kami,” said Araña, who won a UAAP championship in the three years he played for La Salle where Talk ‘N Text’s Renren Ritualo and Mark Cardona lit up their stars.

Sophomore Jeff Chan, a product of Far Eastern University, also played a pivotal role, contributing 10 of his 14 points in the second half and driving past Jimmy Alapag with 13 seconds left to restore the lead for good to Rain or Shine, 94-93.

“Defense was the key in the second half,” said Garcia. “And I can’t say enough of the heart of our players.”

The Painters’ courage was in full display as they rallied from a 54-34 deficit, outscoring the Texters, 31-19, in the third to come threateningly close.

Twice they were repulsed after moving within 67-65 and 87-84. But there was no stopping them after Araña spun between Jared Dillinger and Harvey Carey when the outcome hung, converting the floater while drawing a foul from Dillinger.

He hit the bonus free throw before Ranidel de Ocampo sank two off Jay-R Reyes to give Talk ‘N Text back the advantage, 68 seconds to go.

A change of possessions ensued in the next two plays before Chan, a 3-point specialist, left Alapag in his wake, streaking for a baseline drive to make it 94-93.

The Texters (6-4) missed their last three shots, including a top-of-the-key heave by Alapag at the buzzer.

Their second half offense didn’t mean the Painters (3-7) ignored their coach’s instructions to clamp down on defense.

Carey, who led Talk ‘N Text with 14 points, Ranidel De Ocampo, Alapag and Cardona, the leading scorer in the first half, combined for a measly point in the entire 12-minute third quarter.

And wide-bodied Ali Peek, Cardona, Dillinger and Ritualo (0 of 5 triples) were scoreless in the last quarter.

Sol Mercado, Rain or Shine’s hard-driving point guard, was running a fever after a case of conjunctivitis while No. 2 guard Marcy Arellano had a bruised shin.

“We denied Jimmy in the second half and sabi namin, ‘hayaan mo na si Macmac magbaba ng bola,’” said Garcia. “Talk ‘N Text is an offense-minded team and we just tried to take that away from them.”

Cardona had eight of his 11 first half points in the first quarter as the Tropang Texters gained control early en route to a 52-34 spread in the intermission.

Talk ‘N Text shot 57 percent (8 of 14) inside the arc in the first 12 minutes and was even hotter in the second with a 65 percent clip (11 of 17 two-pointers).

Held down to 5 of 21 from the floor overall in the first period, the Elasto Painters trailed 23-14 and never recovered against the torrid-shooting Texters. (Tempo Sports)

The score:
RAIN OR SHINE 95 – Araña 20, Chan 14, Norwood 13, Hrabak 12, Reyes 11, Telan 11, Laure 6, Cruz 3, Ibanes 3, Tang 2, Dulay 0.
TALK N’ TEXT 93 – Carey 14, Peek 14, De Ocampo R. 13, Alapag 13, Cardona 12, Dillinger 8, Castro 6, De Ocampo Y. 6, Ritualo 4, Belasco 3.
Quarters: 14-23, 34-52, 65-71, 95-93.