CAVITE, Philippines – Rain or Shine finally beat TNT, and more importantly, gained a sense of belief that it can go toe-to-toe with the defending PBA Governors’ Cup champion.
Aaron Fuller completed a crucial three-point play down the stretch, lifting the Elasto Painters to a thrilling 110-109 win over the Tropang Giga in Game 3 of their best-of-seven semifinals at the Dasmariñas Arena on Sunday, October 13.
Churning out 26 points and 16 rebounds, Fuller powered through a foul to convert a fastbreak layup then sank the bonus free throw with 3.8 ticks left as Rain or Shine avoided a precarious 0-3 deficit after dropping the first two games of the series.
“We get ourselves back in the series. Gives us the confidence that we can beat TNT,” said Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao.
“I think we passed the test of character today. We were able to hang in there with a strong team, a great import.”
Rain or Shine frittered away a 15-point lead and saw its former player, Rey Nambatac, give the Tropang Giga a 109-107 lead inside the final 1:30 minutes with his lone basket of the second half.
But the breaks of the game favored the Elasto Painters.
Despite missing a pair of field goals, Rain or Shine earned another crack at either the tie or the lead after TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson missed his short stab with under 15 seconds left.
Gabe Norwood hauled down the rebound then passed it to Andrei Caracut, who located a charging Fuller as the hulking import barreled through the defense of Roger Pogoy and delivered the go-ahead and-one play.
Fuller then helped seal the win, doing just enough to challenge a potential Hollis-Jefferson game-winner that ultimately missed.
“Just having confidence in myself, just knowing that we do not want to be down 0-3,” said Fuller. “Just trying to lay it all out there.”
Santi Santillan played his best game of this playoffs for the Elasto Painters with 20 points and 6 rebounds, Jhonard Clarito tallied 15 points and 4 rebounds, while Felix Lemetti and Adrian Nocum added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The loss put to waste a 27-point effort by TNT big man Poy Erram that came with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.
With Erram tying his career high in points, the Tropang Giga were able to claw their way back into the game after trailing 49-64 in the third quarter.
Hollis-Jefferson notched his fourth PBA career triple-double with 23 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds, while Pogoy posted 22 points.
Nambatac and Calvin Oftana each had 17 points in the losing effort.
The Scores
Rain or Shine 110 – Fuller 26, Santillan 20, Clarito 15, Lemetti 11, Nocum 10, Datu 7, Mamuyac 6, Norwood 6, Caracut 5, Belga 2, Asistio 2.
TNT 109 – Erram 27, Hollis-Jefferson 23, Pogoy 22, Nambatac 17, Oftana 17, Aurin 2, Khobuntin 1, Galinato 0, Exciminiano 0, Varilla 0, Heruela 0.
Quarters : 23-27, 51-43, 86-78, 110-109.
– Rappler.com