ANTON Asistio's four pressure-packed free throws enabled Rain or Shine to complete a huge comeback and steal the win from Titan Ultra, 112-111, on Sunday in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
After storming back from a 19-point deficit, the Elasto Painters found themselves just down by three with four seconds remaining after back-to-back splits from Titan Ultra’s Joshua Munzon and Kobe Monje left the door slightly ajar.
Rain or Shine then took advantage thanks to an inexplicable foul given up by Munzon as Asistio was attempting a four-point shot with 2.1 seconds left, leading to the game-winning freebies before Calvin Abueva missed the potential game winner for Titan.
“We designed that play but we didn’t anticipate a four-point shot. It was Anton just with his natural intelligence siguro to go for the four,” Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said.
“Na-anticipate na namin 'yung foul kaya ang sinabi namin, 'When you feel you’re about to be fouled, you put up a shot,'” he added.
It was a tough loss for the Giant Risers, who, up until the final moments, looked poised to end their three-game slide after seemingly hitting everything in the first three quarters behind the hot hands of Abueva, Munzon and Aljun Melecio.
The Giant Risers were even ahead by seven with 1:33 remaining following an Abueva basket, but the Elasto Painters scored six straight points to trim the lead to a single point with 21.4 seconds left in the game.
Then disaster struck for the Giant Titans.
Munzon, usually a steady shooter from the free throw line, split what would’ve been the insurance foul shots. Still Titan Ultra got a break after Clarito missed what would’ve been the game-tying basket for Rain or Shine.
But it just wasn’t meant to be for Titan Ultra as Monje also split his freebies – setting the red carpet for Asistio’s heroics on the other end.
Asistio’s big free throw wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for Santi Santillan who scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter – including two big treys to trim the Giant Risers lead in the final stretch.
Adrian Nocum led the Elasto Painters with 24 points to go along with eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block while Clarito added 19 points as Rain or Shine won for the second time in three games.
The loss wasted yet another big game for Abueva who finished with 31 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Melecio finished with 21, though he seemingly cooled off in the second half firing just four.
Munzon had 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as well but that all went for naught as the Giant Risers now dropped to 1-4 after such a promising start to the season.
The scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 112 - Nocum 24, Santillan 21, Clarito 19, Asistio 11, Norwood 10, Mamuyac 8, Pangilinan-Lemetti 6, Belga 5, Malonzo 4, Datu 2, Ildefonso 2, Caracut 0
TITAN ULTRA 111– Abueva 31, Melecio 21, Munzon 15, Pessumal 12, Balanza 12, Koon 12, Yu 3, Barasi 2, Flores 2, Monje 1, Ular 0, Ambohot 0
Quarters: 28-34, 57–64, 81-92, 112-111
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