Rain or Shine showed better poise against a more experienced Meralco to hack out a thrilling 85-83 decision for its fourth consecutive win in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, Sunday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters lost control late in the third after Chris Newsome waxed hot from deep and powered a 12-0 run. They even went into a lengthy drought all the way to the fourth quarter, but regained their bearings just in time to pull off the reversal.
Giving their foes a dose of their own medicine, Coach Yeng Guiao’s charges leaned on defense to erase a seven-point deficit, with import Aaron Fuller, Luis Villegas, and Jhonard Clarito joining hands for the strong closeout.
The troika put together a 13-4 run to take the lead for good with 39.4 seconds left for the eventual scoreline, before locking down on D anew — with some luck — to come away with the hard-earned win and improve to 4-2 in Group A.
(C) PBA Images
“Ito siguro ang pinaka-masamang laro namin, but we found ways to win,” said the champion bench tactician, relieved to see his wards show composure when the going got tough for a good start to their second-round campaign.
Fuller overcame an early bad shooting — and his nine turnovers — to finish with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds. And he led Rain or Shine in getting payback against the same team that beat them, 122-114, last July 18 in Antipolo.
Deo Cuajao made 12 points, half of which he earned from deep, while Clarito and Caelan Tiongson each chipped in 11 markers in the win. All of them stepped up to the plate after budding go-to guy Adrian Nocum struggled — and got hurt.
The slashing guard hurt his left thigh when his knee banged into Cliff Hodge’s at the 4:06-mark of the third. The two then needed time on the bench with their respective team doctors after both were in pain.
But Nocum’s absence affected Rain or Shine more as they fell into a dry spell, and the opposition went on to knock down a quartet of threes — three came from Newsome — to end the period in their favor, 75-68.
The Bolts would even stretch the spread to 79-72 after Javee Mocon hit a three-pointer of his own with 9:05 remaining in the deciding period.
However, the Elasto Painters began to find ways to retaliate. Fuller got them going, before fellow bruisers Villegas and Clarito helped him out for an 11-2 rally to take the 83-81 lead with under two minutes left to play.
(C) PBA Images
Hodge responded with a tough layup to tie the game at 83-all seconds later, but it proved to be their final stand as Fuller hit the marginal basket.
Nocum had the chance to ice the game but failed to hit his free throws, and it didn’t help that he got caught pulling Bong Quinto from near the rim. He was called for a foul, and it sent his counterpart to the line as they were in penalty.
But Quinto himself couldn’t capitalize. His first free throw failed to hit the mark, and he deliberately missed the second to try to get the ball back in their favor.
The attempt failed, however, since Fuller was at the right place and the right time for the rebound. He then threw the bell away as time expired to seal the W.
“So it’s not really a nice game to watch: low scoring, maraming mga messy plays,” observed Guiao. “But, ang importante, na-limit namin sila sa (total) 36-percent field goal shooting. That’s way below, I think, their usual average.”
Newsome had 16 points alongside five rebounds and five assists to lead Meralco, which fell to its third straight loss and dropped to 2-4.
This is now the team’s worst six-game start in a conference since going 1-5 during the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup with Johnny O’Bryant as its import, according to a quick check by PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
Antonio Hester notched a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Mocon and Hodge added 14 points apiece for the skidding Bolts.
The Scores:
Rain or Shine 85 – Fuller 25, Cuajao 12, Tiongson 11, Clarito 11,Asistio 7, Nocum 6, Manaytay 5, Villegas 5, Malonzo 2, Caracut 1.
Meralco 83 – Newsome 16, Hester 15, Mocon 14, Hodge 14, Black 7, Quinto 6, Maliksi 6, Banchero 2, Rios 2, Bates 1.
Quarterscores: 25-18, 48-47. 68-75, 85-83.
