DASMARINAS, Cavite - First it was Rey Nambatac and then Calvin Oftana.
On Sunday night, it was Poy Erram. Almost.
Good thing Rain or Shine managed to dodge a bullet against TNT, 110-109, or another of Yeng Guiao's former players could have broken the hearts of the veteran coach and his Elasto Painters yet again.
READ Fuller saves day as Rain or Shine holds off TNT in Game 3
"Puro mga dating players ko ang pumapatay sa akin. Baka may galit sila sa akin," a smiling Guiao said at the close Game 3 win at the Dasmarinas City Arena.
"Buti nga nakalusot kami kay Poy."
The 6-foot-8 Erram had his best game in the PBA Governors' Cup playoffs with a game-high 27 points as he teamed up with import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Roger Pogoy in rallying the Tropang Giga from 15 points down.
Erram's layup inside the final two minutes gave TNT the lead for the last time, 107-105, before Aaron Fuller answered the call for Rain or Shine with a three-point play with 3.8 seconds left for the win.
"Poy probably played one of his best games. And we were able to survive that," acknowledged Guiao of the former Ateneo big man, who played for him while they were still at NLEX.
Had the Tropang Giga not pulled this one off, Erram would have followed Nambatac and Oftana among the ex-players of Guiao at TNT to deal him a loss in the semis.
Nambatac was the hero for the Tropang Giga in their 90-81 win in the series opener, before Oftana followed it up with an offensive explosion in a 108-91 Game 2 victory.
Nambatac previously suited up for Guiao at Rain or Shine, while Oftana was with the champion coach at NLEX.
But win or lose in Game 3, there's a little sense of pride in Guiao seeing his former players thrive with other teams.
"Siyempre masaya kang makita sila doing well with other teams and how they improved as a player from the time they played under me," said Guiao.
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