The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters squandered a double-digit lead before surviving in the endgame against a gritty Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots squad, 111-106, to take a 2-1 lead in their quarterfinals series in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday, September 29, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Aaron Fuller — who was doubtful at the start of the game due to an eye injury — scored nine of his team-high 29 points in overtime, and Jhonard Clarito produced a defensive gem in the closing seconds to put the Elasto Painters a step closer to the semifinals.
It was a hard-earned win for Rain or Shine, which led by as much as 18 points in the first half but couldn’t quite shake off the Hotshots in the second half of the contest.
“Natutuwa rin ako na we were able to hold our emotions, be able to play through the endgame. Beteranong-beterano na ‘tong Magnolia eh. They’ve been to a lot of battles like this. So para talunin mo ang Magnolia sa isang dikdikang laban in the endgame, ibig sabihin medyo matibay ka na rin na pang-endgame,” Painters coach Yeng Guiao said.
Clarito finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals — the last a swipe off Paul Lee with four seconds left that sealed the win for the Elasto Painters.
Gian Mamuyac and Andrei Caracut each had 15 points, and Santi Santillan had a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double.
A Caracut layup with 18 seconds to go in regulation gave them a 98-94 lead, but the PBA’s innovation — the four-point line — came into play as Zav Lucero faked a handoff to Paul Lee, who drew two defenders.
The former University of the Philippines forward was left wide-open, and he knocked down the long-range bomb to tie the count.
Disaster nearly struck for Rain or Shine when they fumbled the inbound in the final seconds, only for Mark Barroca to miss what could have been the game-winning layup for the Hotshots.
There was more drama in overtime, where a goal turned on a Lucero shot allowed the Hotshots to knot the count at 106 with just 10.4 seconds left.
A costly foul called on Jerrick Ahanmisi in the aftermath of the play led to a trip to the stripe by Mamuyac, where he made just one of two shots.
Unfortunately for Magnolia, they failed to secure the rebound, with Fuller grabbing the board and forcing Calvin Abueva to foul him.
The import made both of his shots, and Magnolia flubbed its chances of tying the game when Lee mishandled the ball off Jabari Bird’s inbound pass.
Clarito went on to ice the game from the line, sealing the Elasto Painters’ 2-1 lead.
“‘Yun ang gusto namin — ma-experience namin lahat ng klaseng sitwasyon for our young team to develop. Malaking example dito si Jhonard. He played his heart out. Blood, sweat and tears, literally,” Guiao said of Clarito.
Squandered in the loss was a 31-point, 10-rebound effort from Bird, as well as Lucero’s 24 points and nine boards.
The Elasto Painters can clinch the series on Tuesday, October 1, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. (ABS-CBN News)
RAIN OR SHINE 111 — Fuller 29, Clarito 18, Mamuyac 15, Caracut 15, Santillan 13, Belga 10, Nocum 6, Norwood 5, Tiongson 0, Lemetti 0.
MAGNOLIA 106 — Bird 31, Lucero 24, Dionisio 12, Sangalang 9, Ahanmisi 9, Abueva 8, Barroca 6, Lee 6, Mendoza 1, Dela Rosa 0, Reavis 0.
Quarterscores: 29-18, 50-38, 73-66, 98-98, 111-106.