RAIN or Shine rallied back in the final four minutes to nip TNT, 98-94, in the PBA Season 50 'On Tour,' Saturday night at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
The Elasto Painters went on a huge 19-5 scoring tear going home to erase a 79-89 deficit.
Import Aaron Fuller tied the game at 94, before rookie Deo Cuajao scored on a transition basket as Rain or Shine finally took the driver’s seat at 96-94.
The Tropang 5G, reigning Governors’ Cup champion, played without new import Nick Hornsby (in street clothes) and coach Chot Reyes.
Fuller finished with a game-high 27 points, Caelan Tiongson with 11 and Christian Manaytay with eight.
Veteran guard Stanley Pringle finally played for the Elasto Painters after a long injury and likewise had eight points.
Leonard Santillan and Joshua David however, sat out the game for Rain or Shine, so did Adrian Nocum, who is coming off a stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
Rey Nambatac had eight points for TNT, which led by 10 points twice in the final quarter, the last of which came at 89-79 prior to Rain or Shine's scoring burst in the homestretch.
Hosted by Candon City mayor Eric Singson, the tune-up game also saw free agent big man Jeo Ambohot suit up for TNT for the first time.
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