The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters regained their winning ways in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup after frustrating the NLEX Road Warriors in overtime, 123-114, on Tuesday, September 17, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Elasto Painters were successful in bouncing back from a 102-124 loss handed by Ginebra on Friday, September 13, also securing their sixth win in eight games and an assured spot in the quarterfinals.
The win also gave them a piece of the lead in Group B — a spot they share with the San Miguel Beermen.
“A good test for us, this is a good experience. We have to learn how to win close games,” said mentor Yeng Guiao during the postgame interview.
“‘Di ko alam how we survived ‘yung import nila, played a monster game — 49 points, medyo napagod lang siguro nung huli.”
Guiao was referring to the massive game of DeQuan Jones, who put up a double-double of 49 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
But his Rain or Shine counterpart, Aaron Fuller, did his part after grabbing 25 boards and listing 23 points, while local Anton Asistio stepped up and had 25 markers of his own.
Meanwhile, the Road Warriors now see their woeful campaign at 3-5 after losing four straight games.
Robert Bolick, who was an assist shy of a triple double of 28-11-9 when the curtains fell, had a chance to win it for NLEX at the end of regulation with 19 seconds at his disposal.
However, after getting the separation he needed, the NLEX star fell short of his attempt.
The Road Warriors failed to get their offense going in the extended minutes after scoring only four compared to the winning side’s 13.
Asistio virtually sealed the deal after nailing three clutch makes from the 15-foot-line with 39 seconds left in the match. (ABS-CBN News)
RAIN OR SHINE 123 — Asistio 25, Fuller 23, Clarito 15, Lemetti 14, Tiongson 11, Nocum 11, Santillan 7, Datu 7, Mamuyac 5, Ildefonso 3, Belga 2, Caracut 0.
NLEX 114 — Jones 49, Bolick 28, Mocon 9, Herndon 9, Valdez 8, Miranda 6, Amer 3, Marcelo 2, Rodger 0, Semerad 0, Fajardo 0.
Quarterscores: 34-33, 56-61, 89-83, 110-110, 123-114.