The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will proceed to the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals.
The Elasto Painters finally put the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots to sleep after edging them in Game 5, 113-103, on Saturday, October 5, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The series went in five games that saw an alternating pattern — the Painters won first, the Hotshots came back in the second game, and so on.
Coach Yeng Guiao put a premium on adjustments, which, according to him, were the key to winning the knockout battle in Rizal.
“There’s an advantage in adjustments. After you win the first game, you get to make the adjustments ahead of the other team. So ‘yun lang ‘yung advantage namin, nakapag-adjust kami,” said Guiao during the postgame press conference.
The Hotshots put themselves in striking distance throughout the payoff period and were actually within two, 101-99, after a Jabari Bird shot at the 5:32 mark.
However, Andrei Caracut got ice in his veins, answering back with consecutive jumpers for the Painters in the late moments of the ballgame for a precarious 107-101 separation.
Import Aaron Fuller followed it through with a layup, helping the Painters secure an eight-point lead, 109-101, with 44 seconds left in regulation.
Caracut and Jhonard Clarito drained the freebies off duty fouls from Magnolia to finally settle the final score as the Hotshots continued to miss from beyond the arc in attempts to return to the battle.
“Pinaka-proud ako dun sa lumaban lang sila. They just competed. They fought it out. ‘Di sila bumigay under pressure,” said Guiao.
Fuller flirted with a double-double of 26 points and nine rebounds, while Adrian Nocum and Clarito added 17 points apiece for Guiao and company.
Bird had a 23-15 stat line, while Calvin Abueva had 16 markers for the ousted side.
The Elasto Painters will be battling the TNT Tropang Giga in the next round. (ABS-CBN News)
RAIN OR SHINE 113 — Fuller 26, Clarito 17, Nocum 17, Caracut 14, Santillan 12, Datu 11, Belga 11, Lemetti 5, Mamuyac 2, Asistio 1, Norwood 0.
MAGNOLIA 103 — Bird 23, Abueva 16, Ahanmisi 15, Sangalang 12, Lee 9, Dionisio 9, Dela Rosa 9, Barroca 6, Eriobu 4, Mendoza 0, Reavis 0.
Quarterscores: 20-29, 52-55, 85-83, 113-103.