Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum during a game against Terrafirma.–PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Facing his former rivals and tormentors in the NCAA, Adrian Nocum got some payback after helping Rain or Shine beat Terrafirma on Sunday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Nocum, who starred for Mapua in college, made sure he was on the winning end this time, opposite former Letran stars Louie Sangalang and Brent Paraiso.
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“I’m happy because back in the NCAA, we always lost to Paraiso and Sangalang. Now I’m happy because I got one over them,” said Nocum in jest.
READ: PBA: Rain or Shine overcomes early deficit, beats Terrafirma
“For me, the matchups are also good because they’re young, Paraiso, (Mark) Nonoy and even Paolo (Hernandez), who’s my former teammate. I just stuck to coach Yeng (Guiao)’s game plan so I got to help somehow,” he added.
Nocum provided plenty of help finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds to backstop import Deon Thompson, who had 23 points and 17 rebounds.
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Back in NCAA Season 97, the Knights, who had Sangalang and Paraiso, swept the competition including the Cardinals in the Finals.
Nocum may have won this time but he and the Painters had to earn it.
READ: PBA: Adrian Nocum gets praise from San Miguel foes
The Dyip crashed to their seventh straight loss despite Sangalang putting up a near-double-double of 21 points and eight rebounds while Paraiso cashed in 16 points in the defeat.
The win was as sweet for ROS coach Yeng Guiao as much as it was for Nocum, even though they celebrated different things.
“It’s good to win four straight games before Christmas and before the new year,” said Guiao, whose squad improved to 4-1.
“We’re [also] having our Christmas dinner so it’s good that our mood wasn’t dampened before that. [If we lost] we wouldn’t be eating good,” added a chortled Guiao.
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