RIZAL, Philippines – Rain or Shine turned to Andrei Caracut down the stretch to reach the PBA semifinals for the second straight conference.
Caracut hit the big shots late as the Elasto Painters completed a 113-103 comeback win over Magnolia in Game 5 of their best-of-five quarterfinals in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Saturday, October 5.
The La Salle product scattered 8 of his 14 points in the last five minutes, allowing Rain or Shine to create enough separation on the way to arranging a best-of-seven semifinals with defending champion TNT.
Holding a precarious 101-99 lead, the Elasto Painters pulled away for good as Caracut powered a 12-4 finishing run, draining a pair of tough buckets over Hotshots star Paul Lee.
“I’m proud of how they fought. They competed, they fought it out. They did not fold under pressure. This is the fighting heart the guys showed,” said Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao.
The Hotshots led by as many as 12 points, 23-11, in the first quarter before Rain or Shine chipped a way at its deficit and eventually seized the upper hand, grabbing an 85-83 edge at the end of the third period off a Keith Datu triple.
Datu sank another trey to start the fourth quarter, sparking a 12-6 blitz capped by an Adrian Nocum three-point play that gave the Elasto Painters 97-89 lead.
But Magnolia clawed its way back, with 4 straight points from import Jabari Bird pulling the Hotshots within 99-101.
Caracut, however, refused to let Magnolia get any closer as he beat the shot clock thrice in crunch time, hitting a string of difficult shots that pushed their lead to 107-101 and took the fight out of the Hotshots.
Rain or Shine then saw its advantage swell to double digits for the first time thanks again to Caracut, who buried a pair of free throws for an 111-101 cushion with 24 seconds left.
“Magnolia gave us an important lesson. And to beat Magnolia in Game 5 when everything is at stake? But the guys just disregarded that. The guys gave their all,” said Guiao.
Aaron Fuller showed the way for Rain or Shine with 26 points on top of 9 rebounds and 2 steals, Jhonard Clarito put up a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds with 4 assists, while Nocum also finished with 17 points.
Leonard Santillan added 12 points and Datu ended up with 11 points.
Bird tallied 23 points and 15 rebounds to pace the Hotshots, who were eliminated in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive conference.
Calvin Abueva posted 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Jerrick Ahanmisi had 15 points in the loss.
The Scores
Rain or Shine 113 – Fuller 26, Clarito 17, Nocum 17, Caracut 14, Santillan 12, Datu 11, Belga 8, 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.
Quarters : 20-29, 52-55, 85-83, 113-103.
– Rappler.com