Felix Lemetti proved his worth as Rain or Shine spoiled the debut of Barangay Ginebra, 73-64, to remain unbeaten in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, Saturday evening at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
The eighth overall pick of this year’s Draft fired 13 points as he led the Elasto Painters’ finishing 20-3 run to wipe out an eight-point deficit.
Rain or Shine have booked their second win in as many games, and take the provisional lead of Group B.
Lemetti was responsible for giving his side the lead for good, 65-64, with 3:53 to go in the game. He went 3-of-4 from the free-throw line after being fouled by Scottie Thompson upon launching from the four-point area.
Jhonard Clarito, Gian Mamuyac, and Aaron Fuller would chip in afterwards.
Coach Yeng Guiao’s wards ended the game with 12 unanswered points, capped off by Lemetti himself with a trey from the wing with 1:07 left to play.
(C) PBA Images
Fuller top-scored in the win with 16 points and 23 rebounds while Andrei Caracut chipped in 14, including one from the 27-foot arc.
Up next for RoS will be Robert Bolick and NLEX on August 28, Wednesday, 7:30 PM at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, where it aims to go 3-0.
Japeth Aguilar, on the other hand, led the Kings with 20 points and nine rebounds in the loss that also ruined the comeback of Justin Brownlee.
(C) PBA Images
The three-time Best Import finished with 18 points on 21 shots and 10 rebounds in 39 minutes in his first game back in the PBA after over a year.
Brownlee tried to steer the Kings when he came through with a bucket from point-blank for the 64-62 lead with 4:08 to go. However, that proved to be their last conversion of the game as Lemetti and Co. went on a roll.
Also spoiled by the defeat were the first PBA games of Stephen Holt, who had 13 points and nine rebounds, Isaac Go, and rookie RJ Abarrientos.
Up next for Ginebra is an early rivalry affair as it faces San Miguel Beer on August 27, Tuesday, 7:30 PM at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 73 – Fuller 16, Caracut 14, Lemetti 13, Mamuyac 9, Tiongson 5, Clarito 4, Belga 3, Ildefonso 3, Santillan 2, Nocum 2, Datu 2, Norwood 0, Asistio 0, Borboran 0.
Ginebra 64 – J.Aguilar 20, Brownlee 18, Holt 13, Ahanmisi 5, Thompson 4, Go 2, Abarrientos 2, Cu 0.
Quarterscores: 19-16, 29-34, 51-52, 73-64.
