RAIN or Shine advanced to the semifinals of the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup, hacking out a hard-fought 113-103 win over Magnolia Chicken Timplados in Game Five on Saturday night at the Ynares Center.
Andrei Caracut knocked down eight clutch points in the final minutes of the do-or-die duel as the young Elasto Painters showed poise in outlasting the Hotshots to arrange a semifinal match-up against fellow top-seeded TNT.
READ: Magnolia forces KO match with RoS after blowout win in Game 4
Aaron Fuller once again made huge contributions for Rain or Shine squad, hitting a short stab with 44.6 seconds left for a 109-101 lead on their way to ousting the veteran Magnolia team in the best-of-five quarterfinals.
“Ramdam mo na lumaban sila. They just competed and fought it out,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
Fuller had 26 points and nine rebounds, while Jhonard Clarito and Adrian Nocum had 17 points with Clarito hauling 10 boards for the Elasto Painters.
But it was Caracut’s baskets that eventually sent Rain or Shine in the semifinals, shots he began to hit after the Elasto Painters’ lead went down to two points, 101-99.
Caracut knocked down a running banked shot to beat the shotclock, and knocked down a scoop shot with 2:08 to play for a six-point lead. Caracut then knocked down a running shot against Paul Lee with 1:19 left for 107-101 lead.
Caracut further increased the gap by knocking down two free throws with 24 seconds left to finish with 14 points and make what was a nip-and-tuck affair for majority of the contest, a 10-point game.
Rain or Shine trailed by 12 points, 23-11, but outscored Magnolia, 32-26, in the second quarter to keep the contest close.
Ultimately, Guiao said Rain or Shine’s Game One win helped eliminate a tough Magnolia team that sent them to a rubber match.
“Nag-aalternate lang ‘yung results ng laro. [We] won the first one, they won second game, we won third, they won fourth, we won the fifth. There’s an advantage in adjustment. After you win the first game, you get to make the adjustments ahead of the team. ‘Yun lang ang advantage namin,” said Guiao.
Jabari Bird had 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Calvin Abueva added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Hotshots.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 113 – Fuller 26, Clarito 17, Nocum 17, Caracut 14, Santillan 12, Datu 11, Belga 8, Lemetti 5, Mamuyac 2, Asistio 1, Norwood 0.
Magnolia 103 – Bird 23, Abueva 16, Ahanmisi 15, Sangalang 12, Lee 9, Dionisio 9, Dela Rosa 9, Barroca 6, Eriobu 4, Mendoza 0, Reavis 0.
Quarters: 20-29; 52-55; 85-83; 113-103.
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