CHICAGO -- Jerrick Ahanmisi was cooking. Calvin Abueva was flexing. And Magnolia roared to a 23-11 blast to start their do-or-die Game Five battle with Rain or Shine.
But with the Hotshots, big leads are never safe and even when they were raining threes early on at the Ynares Center on Saturday night, it still felt like a movie we've seen before.
And sure enough, after holding on to a slippery 55-52 edge at the break, the Hotshots surrendered the lead entering the fourth quarter where they were simply outplayed and out-toughed.
Rain or Shine 113. Magnolia 103.
READ: Clutch Caracut takes over for RoS in do-or-die match vs. Magnolia
The gutsy win bolted the Elasto Painters to a place in the semifinals, a well deserved ticket after finishing the elimination round play with a 7-3 card and the No.1 seed.
At the post-game press conference, RoS coach Yeng Guiao shared the simple message he gave his players entering the knockout game.
MASTER MOTIVATOR.
"Play the game for yourself, your team and your families."
They sure did, especially Andrei Caracut, who embodied Rain or Shine's stout heart with a 14-point effort that pushed back Magnolia's repeated attempts to claw back late.
Caracut took only eight field goals, mostly in the fourth quarter. Twice in the last two minutes, with the outcome still flailing in the balance, the 28-year old former La Salle charger danced around and scored against 35-year old Paul Lee.
Consistent throughout the series, Aaron Fuller delivered the goods yet again for Rain or Shine with 26 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals.
There were several others who followed Fuller.
Jhonard Clarito and Adrian Nocum combined for 34 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. Leonard Santillan pitched in 12 while Keith Datu went 3-for-3 from 3 and chipped in 11 points.
ROS RESISTED AND MAGNOLIA BROKE.
"Di sila bumigay under pressure," Guiao said, beaming with pride.
Magnolia, meanwhile, didn't show the poise and production you'd expect from the more veteran team.
Lee had nine points on 3-of-13 shooting. Mark Barroca was held to six points and four assists, while Ian Sangalang only had 12 points and four rebounds.
Magnolia's import, Jabari Bird, did not rise to the challenge. He got into early foul trouble and couldn't find any offensive traction as he took several bad shots in the final frame.
He still finished with 23 points but he went 0-for-4 from 3, dished only two dimes and coughed up 5 turnovers.
In the end of an up and mostly down Governor's Cup, Magnolia's campaign brutally ends.
When the Hotshots close their eyes to sleep tonight they probably will wonder what their fortunes would be had they kept Glenn Robinson III instead of parading three different replacements.
What if.
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