Rain or Shine ousts TNT to set up semis duel vs San Miguel
Rain or Shine Elastopainters Gian Mamuyac during a PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals game against TNT Tropangg Giga. –PBA IMAGES
Rain or Shine staved off TNT’s fourth quarter comeback to eke out a 110-109 victory Wednesday and a trip to the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Elasto Painters will take on the powerhouse San Miguel Beermen after taking the deciding game of their best-of-three series behind a conference-high 25 points from Gian Mamuyac, who came through with the biggest shot of the evening.
Mamuyac’s triple with 39 seconds left gave Rain or Shine a 107-100 lead to secure the win despite allowing TNT to rally from a 20-point deficit.
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Turnovers from Calvin Oftana during the key stretch also hastened the doom of the Tropang Giga, whose attempt to pull off another comeback win fell short.
Jhonard Clarito, rookie Keith Datu and Santi Santillan were also instrumental in sending Rain or Shine to the semis for the first time since the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup. It’s also the first since coach Yeng Guiao returned to the team he steered to two championships in 2022.
Its entry to the all-Filipino tournament’s last four also came despite dropping its first four assignments.
The best-of-seven series with the Beermen will start on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: PBA: Rain or Shine bounces back to even series vs TNT
Clarito, the hero of Rain or Shine’s 121-113 win in Game 2 that forced a rubber, had 17 points and nine rebounds, Santillan scored 15 and Datu added 11 points and six rebounds for the Elasto Painters.
Veteran Kelly Williams scored a game-high 32 points but TNT ended the season with another quarterfinal exit, this time despite taking the series opener.
Oftana had 27, but the Tropang Giga had to finish the game without RR Pogoy, who was taken off the court on a stretcher after injuring his knee. TNT came into the decider minus Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser due to an ACL tear.
PBA scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 110—Mamuyac 25, Clarito 17, Santillan 15, Datu 11, Nocum 11, Ildefonso 10, Norwood 6, Caracut 5, Asistio 5, Belga 5, Demusis 0.
TNT 109—K.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.
Quarters: 39-22, 59-45, 89-72, 110-109.
