ANTIPOLO – Aaron Fuller was willpower personified as he towed Rain or Shine past Magnolia in a heated encounter that went into extra time, 111-106, to move a step closer to the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals on Sunday night.
Doubtful to play due to a torn cornea he sustained from an accidental poke in the eye by Ian Sangalang in Game 2, the American forward made the trip to the Ynares Center here and ensured that his team won’t play a man down.
Without any facial protection, he punched in 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field and an 11-of-12 clip from the foul line, 11 rebounds, and five assists to give themselves the 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 quarterfinal series.
Fuller lifted the Elasto Painters in overtime, scoring nine to lead their 13-8 assault as he made it a point to redeem himself after conceding the game-tying four-point shot from Zavier Lucero with 13.1 seconds left in regulation.
He sank both of his charities with 8.7 seconds left — off a foul that sent Calvin Abueva out as it was his sixth — for the 109-106 cushion before Jhonard Clarito sealed the deal with a steal on Paul Lee and his own pair of charities.
“Warrior talaga ‘to si Aaron,” lauded head coach Yeng Guiao of the 34-year-old from Arizona. “Tahimik lang siya, but he plays with a big heart. He’s able to control his emotions and be able to carry our team on his shoulders.”
That performance inspired the locals to deliver, with Clarito himself finishing with a full line of 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block in 36 minutes on the way to being named Player of the Game.
Gian Mamuyac supplied 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Fifteen were also provided by Andrei Caracut behind 3-of-6 shooting from deep.
Santi Santillan registered his own double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds with a quartet of dimes, while Beau Belga chipped in 10.
It was, needless to say, a character-testing win for Rain or Shine especially after overcoming a tough stand by Magnolia, who battled back from a deficit as big as 18 points early, 20-38, and even took the 104-101 lead during OT.
Emotions ran high as well when Hotshots head coach Chito Victolero lost his cool and had an outburst on the court while contending a goaltending on Clarito against Zav Lucero with 10.4 ticks left although the call was eventually made.
It tied the game at 106-all but Mamuyac came through with a split for the slim lead, and that’s when Fuller and Clarito came in for the finishing touches.
“Natutuwa rin ako na we were able to hold our emotions, and be able to play through the endgame,” Guiao said proudly of his boys. “Beteranong-beterano na ‘tong Magnolia eh; they’ve been to a lot of battles like this.
“So, para talunin mo ang Magnolia sa isang dikdikang laban sa endgame, ibig sabihin medyo matibay ka na rin pang-endgame. Ayun ang gusto namin, ma-experience namin lahat ng klaseng sitwasyon for a real team to develop.”
Jabari Bird had 31 points and 10 rebounds for Magnolia, who is in danger of missing the Governors’ Cup semis for the second time in a row.
Lucero finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Aris Dionisio added 12 points and four rebounds as the usual suspects were far from the usual.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 111 – Fuller 29, Clarito 18, Mamuyac 15, Caracut 15, Santillan 13, Belga 10, Nocum 6, Norwood 5, Tiongson 0, Lemetti 0.
Magnolia 106 – Bird 31, Lucero 24, Dionisio 12, Sangalang 9, Ahanmisi 9, Abueva 8, Barroca 6, Lee 6, Mendoza 1, Dela Rosa 0, Reavis 0.
Quarterscores: 29-18, 50-38, 73-66, 98-98, 111-106.
