Rain or Shine survives Magnolia to take quarterfinals Game 1
Rain or Shine Elastopainters’ Aaron Fuller rises for a shot against Magnolia defenders during a PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals game. –PBA IMAGES
Rain or Shine survived a flurry of long-range shots by Magnolia in the fourth quarter to eke out a 109-105 victory and open their best-of-five quarterfinal series in the PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Elasto Painters bucked a 10-point fourth quarter deficit after the Hotshots launched two four-pointers and three triples, with import Aaron Fuller, Jhonard Clarito and rookie Caelan Tiongson leading the way.
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Fuller had 24 points and 20 rebounds, Clarito posted 20 points while Tiongson delivered the go-ahead three that put Rain or Shine back in front, 103-102, entering the homestretch.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals
Several stops in the end allowed Rain or Shine to gain a headstart in the playoff duel pitting the No. 1 team from Group B and the No. 4 seed from Group A in Magnolia.
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Game 2 is set Friday in Sta. Rosa, Laguna as the Elasto Painters hope to close in on a place in the semis.
Magnolia couldn’t get the win despite knocking down six of 12 quadruples, with two coming from Jerrick Ahanmisi who finished with 15 points.
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Rayvonte Rice, the replacement import for Shabazz Muhammad, posted 16 points but was 6-of-20 from the field.
It was the second game in a Magnolia uniform for Rice, who scored just five in the team’s final group stage match at the hands of Converge.
Paul Lee, who also scored 15, had a chance to force overtime but his hurried four-pointer before the horn didn’t hit the mark.
