ANDREI Caracut’s sizzling start to Game 3 went for naught on Sunday, as Rain or Shine now trails in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinals for the first time.
After scoring a grand total of two points in the first two games, Caracut made five three-pointers in just the first quarter, including an outside shot that sent the Elasto Painters ahead, 26-13, what turned out to be their biggest lead.
The Mall of Asia Arena crowd also went berserk after it was realized that rumored girlfriend and volleyball superstar Bella Belen was watching from the stands.
But Caracut and the rest of RoS failed to sustain their hot start, as they were all of a sudden trailing, 30-27, at the end of the first quarter. Ginebra then turned things around for good after a 29-12 third quarter on its way to a 103-98 win.
READ: Do-it-all Scottie Thompson sparks Ginebra's Game 3 win over ROS
As for Caracut, he didn’t score again after that hot-shooting start and ended up going 5-of-12 from the field, all but two of his attempts coming from threes.
“Maganda rin na natapat na may tira akong bukas. Pero hindi na nasundan eh,” he said. “Kailangan lang bumawi.”
On to the next
In particular, the sharpshooting guard rued the third quarter where Rain or Shine wasn’t able to answer the Gin Kings' Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee-led attack.
“Alam ko, mas maraming fastbreak nila sa amin. Yun ang laro namin na naging laro nila nung third quarter. Mas tinakbuhan kami dahil sa turnovers,” he said.
The Elasto Painters will have two days to regroup and prepare before Game 3 on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum where Caracut remains confident about their chances to even the series.
“Tuloy pa rin. Kumpiyansa pa rin. Hindi mawawala yun. Hindi pa naman tapos. Sa amin, nung natalo kami, sabi namin best-of-five. Kailangan lang bumawi, mag-adjust lang. Tuloy pa rin,” he said.
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