RAIN or Shine outlasted Magnolia in a hotly-contested Game 3 that went into overtime, 111-106, to move a win away from clinching a semifinals seat in the PBA Governors Cup.
In a surprising twist, import Aaron Fuller suited up for the Elasto Painters and submitted huge numbers of 29 points and 11 rebounds just two days after being poked seriously in the left eye by Magnolia big man Ian Sangalang.
Coach Yeng Guiao and his crew are now up 2-1 in the best-of-five series and could finish off Magnolia on Tuesday when Game 4 is played at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Also taking a 2-1 lead is TNT, which routed NLEX, 109-91, in their own best-of-five duel.
Wins by the Tropang Giga and Elasto Painters will have them meeting in the best-of-seven semifinals.
Here are the takeaways in Sunday’s twin bill at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
1.PBA OFFICIATING TAKES THE HEAT AGAIN
Officiating was put under the microscope during a heated sequence late in overtime of the game between Rain or Shine and Magnolia, with coaches Guiao and Chito Victolero both asking for consistency on the part of game officials.
Victolero complained about the shot block committed by Jhonard Clarito on a driving Zavier Lucero in the waning seconds of the extra period and Magnolia trailing, 106-104.
The Hotshots had to give up a quick foul to stop the clock and send Gian Mamuyac to the foul line. But during the dead ball situation, the referees reviewed the previous play and reversed the decision by saying Clarito committed a goal tending violation and counted the basket that tied the score at 106-all.
The Magnolia coach contended the referees should have already called an outright goal tending violation shortly after the play, otherwise, the Hotshots would no longer commit a foul on Mamuyac, who split his free throws that made it a 107-106 game.
But Guiao agreed with the procedure, saying game officials could only review a goal-tending violation during a dead ball situation.
The Rain or Shine coach though, protested why no technical foul was called on Victolero as the Magnolia coach was seen rumbling and complaining incessantly to the referees after the correction was made on Lucero’s basket.
Guiao said if he’s the one who did the act, there would be an automatic technical foul called on him.
2.GUIAO PLAYING PSYWAR AGAINST THE HOTSHOTS
The brilliant coach that he is, Guiao called on the league to review the play involving Sangalang poking Fuller on his left eye that made the import missed the entire three quarters of Game 2 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna which the Elasto Painters lost by 52 points.
The 65-year-old Guiao later floated the huge possibility Rain or Shine wouldn’t have Fuller available for Game 3 because of his eye injury. But come game time, the 34-year-old import was in full battle gear and went on to play for 37 minutes.
He finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Including two free throws and a crucial offensive board down the stretch of the overtime period that spelled the difference in the Rain or Shine win.
During the post-game presser, Guiao said Fuller was given the go-signal to play at the last minute despite suffering a torn cornea. Nonetheless, the Rain or Shine coach certainly caught Magnolia off guard as far as Fuller’s availability is concerned.
3.GLENN KHOBUNTIN SHOWS HIS OFFENSIVE SIDE
Known more as a defensive player, Khobuntin showed he can also score when called upon. The 33-year-old forward was a flawless 5-of-5 from three-point range in Game 3 of the TNT-NLEX series. He finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while going a near-perfect 5-of-6 from the field in 23 minutes of play.
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