MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters survived a late flurry from the TNT Tropang Giga to pull off a 110-109 escape in a do-or-die quarterfinals game of the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
Leading by as much as 20 points in the second half, the Painters were surprised by a huge fight back from the Tropang Giga, which tied the score at 98-all on a three-pointer from Calvin Oftana.
The Painters answered back with three-pointers from Andrei Caracut and Gian Mamuyac and free throws from rookie Keith Datu to take a 107-100 lead with 37 seconds left.
TNT made its last push with back-to-back three-pointers from Kelly Williams, but the ROS converted three free throws from Jhonard Clarito and Gabe Norwood to extend the lead to 110-106 before Williams ended the game with another triple.
Mamuyac finished with 25 points, including two three-pointers, to go with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal as the Painters completed their upset over the Tropang Giga, 2-1, in the best-of-three series.
Clarito and Santillan added 17 and 15 markers, respectively, Adrian Nocum and Datu contributed 11 points apiece, and Shaun Ildefonso ended with 10 markers for the Painters.
The Painters will next face top-seed San Miguel Beermen in a best-of-seven semifinals beginning today at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“This is like a championship game for us, madami sa mga players namin hindi pa nakakatikim ng semis, ako din medyo matagal tagal na din hindi nakapasok sa semis,” said Painters head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao.
“Siguro masyado lang din kaming suwerte. Buti na lang medyo malaki laki ‘yung lamang namin kundi baka talo pa kami. Kahit na kulang sila sa players kinayod pa din nila, kinapos lang,” he added.
Williams finished with a double-double of 32 points and 14 rebounds, Oftana added 27 markers, while Roger Pogoy and Glenn Khobuntin ended with 22 and 10, respectively, for the Tropang Giga./PN
BOX SCORE:
RAIN OR SHINE 110 – Mamuyac 25, Clarito 17, Santillan 15, Nocum 11, Datu 11, Ildefonso 10, Norwood 6, Caracut 5, Asistio 5, Belga 5, Demusis 0.
TNT 109 – Williams 32, Oftana 27, Pogoy 22, Khobuntin 10, Montalbo 4, Castro 4, Aurin 4, Galinato 2, Heruela 2, M. Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Reyes 0, Ponferrada 0.
Quarterscores: 39-22, 59-45, 89-72, 110-109.
