RAIN or Shine carved out a hard-earned 110-109 win over TNT on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals of the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup.
Gian Mamuyac scored a team-high 25 points including a three-pointer with 38.6 seconds left to give Rain or Shine a 106-100 lead that prved enough to capture the victory in deciding Game 3 of their quarterfinal series.
The Elasto Painters led by as many as 20 points but were made to sweat by a furious Tropang Giga run led by Calvin Oftana.
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But Oftana also committed two costly errors in the end game – the first one leading to the Mamuyac triple – as ROS set up a date with San Miguel in a best-of-seven semifinal series that begins on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Rain or Shine made it to the semifinals for the first time since the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup, where it lost, incidentally, to San Miguel.
Coach Yeng Guiao said he made the players well-aware of the magnitude of Wednesday’s game to the franchise. The players responded to make Rain or Shine athe last independent team left standing in the conference.
“Sabi ko sa mga players yesterday in practice, this is going to be our championship game,” said Guiao. “Marami sa kanila, hindi pa nakakatikim ng semifinals. Ako, matagal na rin. We felt that this could be a historic game for us. Excited sila. Excited din ako.”
Rain or Shine jumped out to an early lead and ended the first quarter on top, 39-22. The lead swelled to as high as 20, 75-55, in the third quarter on a lay-up by Adrian Nocum.
Oftana though drained several shots including a three-pointer that tied the game at 98 with 4:08 left. But Andrei Caracut knocked down a three on the next possession that kept Rain or Shine’s head above water.
“I guess masyado lang kaming suwerte. Kulang ang TNT and we started well kanina. Mabuti na lang, malaki ‘yung lamang namin. Kung maliit ang lamang namin, talo kami,” said Guiao.
Jhonard Clarito had another huge game, scoring 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while Santi Santillan added 15 points for Rain or Shine.
The Elasto Painters not only spoiled Oftana’s effort but the 32-point performance of Kelly Williams, his highest scoring output in a TNT uniform.
Williams' points included a buzzer-beating three to end the ballgame.
Roger Pogoy had 22 points but left the game on a stretcher at the final 2:19-mark after getting hurt following a shot attempt.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 110 – Mamuyac 25, Clarito 17, Santillan 15, Nocum 11, Datu 11, Ildefonso 10, Norwood 6, Asistio 5, Caracut 5, Belga 5, Demusis 0.
TNT 109 – Williams 32, Oftana 27, Pogoy 22, Khobuntin 10, Montalbo 4, Castro 4, Aurin 4, Heruela 2, M. Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Galinato 2, Reyes 0, Ponferada 0.
Quarters: 39-22; 59-45; 89-72; 110-109.
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