Rain or Shine pulled the rug underneath TNT by way of a 91-89 decision to get back on track and create a rather interesting race in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup before an appreciative crowd in Cagayan de Oro, Saturday night.
Andrei Caracut knocked down the go-ahead floater to erase an 89-88 Tropang 5G lead with 2:02 to go, putting themselves in the lead for good after climbing back from a tepid start that saw the crew stare at a 6-20 deficit.
Jhonard Clarito then split his shots from the line for the eventual final count with 7.5 seconds left, and Caelan Tiongson’s effort on the 50-50 ball kept their foes from having ample time to properly generate a play to snatch the game away.
And all those were enough for the charges of Coach Yeng Guiap to come away with the hard-earned triumph, much of course to the delight of the fans that trooped to the Aquilino Q. Pimnetel Jr. International Convention Center.
(C) PBA Images
By stunning last season’s double champs, the Elasto Painters have replaced the latter as the no. 1 team in the standings as they improved to 6-2.
The Tropa, on the other hand, dropped to 5-2 and are now sharing the second spot with Magnolia, San Miguel Beer, Converge, and NLEX.
Gabe Norwood led the way for Rain or Shine with 16 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Gian Mamuyac backed him up with 14 points.
The tandem was crucial in their fourth-quarter surge, helping put together an 11-0 run–concluded by a tough Mike Malonzo layup–that gave the squad its first lead at 83-81 with 9:10 remaining, setting up the tight exchange.
Clarito and Santi Santillan chipped in eight points apiece in the win that made it a successful return for both Tiongson and Stanley Pringle from injuries.
Having netted their first victory since losing Keith Datu to a season-ending knee injury, the Elasto Painters will try to keep it going when they face the FiberXers on December 7, Sunday, at the Ynares Center II in Montalban.
(C) PBA Images
Roger Pogoy and Rey Nambatac, on the other hand, fired 18 points apiece for TNT, although the lefty guard wasn’t able to finish the game after incurring his sixth and final foul, which sent Clarito to the foul line with 7.5 ticks left.
Fouls proved costly for the Tropa in the endgame, with Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser whistled for a flagrant foul penalty one (F1) infraction on opposing guard Adrian Nocum with 8.6 seconds left, effectively kicking him out of the match.
Jordan Heading had 15 points while Henry Galinato added 13 points and seven rebounds as Coach Chot Reyes’ wards tried to pick up the slack on a night star forward Calvin Oftana sat out, reportedly because of a hamstring injury
TNT–along with the other teams-will now head into the FIBA break before helping usher in the conference’s resumption on December 5, Friday, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo with a heavyweight showdown against the Beermen.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 91 – Norwood 16, Mamuyac 14, Santillan 8, Clarito 8, Tiongson 7, Nocum 7, Caracut 7, Lemetti 6, Asistio 5, Malonzo 4, Belga 4, Manaytay 3, Pringle 2.
TNT 89 – Nambatac 18, Pogoy 18, Heading 15, Galinato 13, Williams 9, Aurin 6, Jalalon 4, Ferrer 3, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Khobuntin 0, Erram 0.
Quarterscores: 18-31, 42-54, 74-81, 91-89.
