ANTIPOLO – It wasn’t really the plan, but the opportunity presented itself.
So, Anton Asistio did what he deemed best, leading to a crazy finish that ultimately saw Rain or Shine escape the upset-hungry Titan Ultra on Sunday.
“Hindi four, pero para sa akin talaga ‘yung play,” he said on the heels of their 112-111 victory — their second in a row in the Season 50 Philippine Cup.
“It just so happened na nandun ako sa four-point line.”
Asistio emerged as the hero by knocking down all four of his free throws with 2.1 seconds left to erase a 111-108 Giant Risers lead.
He earned the freebies after baiting a foul off Joshua Munzon, who tried to strip the ball away, but the former was quick — and smart — enough to hoist up a shot.
The referees, after a quick review, saw that it was indeed a shooting foul, thus awarding Asistio four shots from the line, which he would go on to make.
All the Elasto Painters felt relieved, especially head coach Yeng Guiao, as their decision to give him that possession paid off.
But what impressed him more was Asistio’s presence of mind that led to the game-winning free throws.
“We designed that last play for Anton. But we did not really anticipate that it was going to be a four-point shot,” said the champion bench tactician.
“We thought that a three was enough, but it was Anton really who just, with his natural intelligence siguro, took the four,” he continued.
(C) Screenshot PBA Youtube
He did disclose, though, that he reminded his charges to try to put up a shot should they feel that their counterparts would go for a foul.
“Na-anticipate na namin ‘yung foul and ang sinabi namin, when you’re about to feel you’re getting fouled, you put up a shot,” Guiao said.
Asistio clearly took that to heart, paving the way for a gutsy play that left the fans who watched at the Ynares Center here live in awe.
“Hindi, pero I had a feeling na magfo-foul sila. So nung na-feel ko na magfa-foul, binato ko na lang siya,” he offered when asked if he intended to take the four.
And Guiao couldn’t feel prouder to see his guard deliver, even as the latter went cold after sitting on the bench longer than usual.
“Actually, Anton was cold off the bench, eh,” he said, “kasi medyo matagal siyang naipahinga. Pero we knew that that setup was really what Anton is good at.
“So binigay namin sa kanya ‘yung opportunity na ‘yun.”
Asistio, who finished with 11 points alongside two rebounds and an assist as a starter, has nothing but gratitude to receive that kind of trust.
“Ayun nga, malaking bagay talaga ‘yung trust na binibigay sa akin ni Coach Yeng. Siyempre kailangan ko suklian ‘yun,” said the 30-year-old guard from Ateneo.
“Thankfully… Feeling ko nasuklian ko naman.”
He did, for sure.
#WATCH: “IT’S JUST ME AND THE FREE THROW LINE”
Anton Asistio looks back on his four clutch free throws that gave Rain or Shine the win against Titan Ultra#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/xnk0zJQ4hP
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA50 pic.twitter.com/UiOYEIhF3p
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) October 26, 2025
