JHONARD Clarito had another double-double, making his mark in the fourth quarter once again as Rain or Shine earned a semifinal berth after a 103-92 victory over NLEX on Saturday in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Santi Santillan had 24 points and nine rebounds, while Andrei Caracut added 16 points for the Elasto Painters, who outscored the Road Warriors, 25-15, in the fourth quarter to clinch a semifinal berth despite needing consecutive wins in the quarterfinals after coming in as the No. 7 seed in the playoffs.
READ: Guiao didn't even like Clarito the first time he saw him play
But it was Clarito who made the biggest impact by producing again in the fourth on his way to finishing with 13 points and 16 rebounds for Rain or Shine.
The Elasto Painters battle TNT for the fourth straight time in the playoffs, and third consecutive in the semifinals. Game One of the series is slated on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
It was in the third quarter where Rain or Shine started to climb back, scoring seven straight points capped off by an Andrei Caracut three for a 78-77 lead at the end of the period.
Rain or Shine also built an 8-0 run with Clarito making a jumper at the end of that stretch for a 90-81 lead.
An unsung hero was Michael Malonzo, who scored four of his 10 points in that key fourth-quarter run by Rain or Shine.
“Nakaraos, nakalusot kami uli. I think this is our fourth straight time to make the semis. But ang dami naming ginawang mali. We gave up 25 offensive rebounds. We gave up 19 turnovers. We lost fastbreak points, we felt fastbreak is our game, pero talo kami roon. But we still won the game,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
“Eto ‘yung pinag-uusapan namin sa locker room na just play our brand of game which we call it ‘buwis buhay basketball.’ Parang effort, grit lang,” he added.
Robert Bolick had 34 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals but it was not enough to carry NLEX to the victory even with the Road Warriors armed with a twice-to-beat advantage as the second seed in the playoffs.
The Road Warriors already held a 39-28 lead in the second quarter but still came up short.
The scores:
Rain or Shine 103 – Santillan 24, Caracut 16, Clarito 13, Asistio 11, Malonzo 10, Mamuyac 9, Tiongson 8, Nocum 5, Norwood 4, Porter 3, Datu 0.
NLEX 92 – Bolick 34, Bahio 11, Ramirez 10, Mocon 9, Fajardo 7, Semerad 6, Policarpio 5, Torres 4, Nieto 2, Alas 2, Valdez 2.
Quarters: 21-27; 52-55; 78-77; 103-92.
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