Rain or Shine withstood Magnolia in a grind-out affair of defensive-minded squads, 75-72, to snap its two-game losing skid in the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup, Friday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Rookie Santi Santillan gave the Elasto Painters the lead for good approaching the final two minutes before veteran big Beau Belga, Norbert Torres, and Javee Mocon provided the needed baskets to keep the Hotshots at bay.
“It comes down to the little details especially in big games like this against a Magnolia team that’s playing extremely well. A margin of error against a team like that is very minimal,” offered head coach Chris Gavina.
Mocon finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists in a turnover-less game to lead RoS to its fifth win of the conference.
“It’s a collective effort, itong win na ‘to. We really needed this badly to enter the playoffs. Coach has been preaching confidence, staying as a team, togetherness, so ito ‘yung result,” said the third-year forward.
Santillan turned in the best game of his young career thus far as he produced 14 points on a 50-percent clip and five boards.
“We don’t have labels with our young guys anymore. All we see are players. I don’t consider them rookies in any way,” said Gavina.
The fifth overall pick showed no fear in matching up against Calvin Abueva and scored off the former BPC’s foul with 2:20 to play. He then made the bonus free throw to turn a one-point deficit to a 70-68 lead for his side.
Belga then banked in a jumper with 1:42 remaining but fouled out just seconds later that led to Ian Sangalang’s free throws. Thankfully for Rain or Shine, Torres was there to widen the lead to four, 74-70, with 1:09 to spare.
Mark Barroca responded with a leaner to beat the shot clock, and Magnolia appeared to have made a key stop as Rey Nambatac fell against the double team. However, he was quick enough to call a timeout to save the possession.
The Hotshots, though, forced the Elasto Painters to a 24-second violation but failed to convert the opportunity they earned as Paul Lee missed his three-pointer from the top of the key with about 17 seconds to go.
Mocon hauled the miss and was then sent to the line to freeze the clock, and the door remained open for their foes as he only split his freebies.
Magnolia, however, could not buy a basket. Jerrick Ahanmisi failed to finish the well-executed play that got him open on the left-wing. Sangalang, meanwhile, was not able to hoist his shot from point-blank range in time.
“I was asked today if there was a sense of panic in our team, I said it’s not in our culture. Fear to us means to face everything and rise,” said Gavina.
Former two-time Most Valuable Player James Yap also made his presence felt in the victory with 14 points, his best yet in the conference.
Meanwhile, Sangalang had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead Magnolia, who fell to fourth in the standings with a 6-3 record.
Calvin Abueva made 12 and 13 for his fifth double-double of the tournament, but he once again failed to finish the game as he fouled out late.
Barroca, who suffered a gash in his left eyebrow following an inadvertent elbow by Abueva after a fake hand-off during the second quarter, added 11 points. Lee also scored the same amount in the defeat.
Rain or Shine will look to make it two in a row when it battles the streaking San Miguel Beer on Sunday, September 12, at 2:00 p.m.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine (75) — Mocon 19, Yap 14, Santillan 14, Nambatac 8, Caracut 7, Torres 4, Norwood 2, Asistio 2, Borboran 2, Belga 2, Ponferada 1.
Magnolia 72 — Sangalang 21, Abueva 12, Lee 11, Barroca 11, dela Rosa 7, Brill 3, Melton 3, Reavis 2, Jalalon 2, Corpuz 0, Ahanmisi 0.
Quarterscores: 16-13, 31-28, 51-53, 75-72.
