MANILA – Aaron Fuller completed a go-ahead three-point play as Rain or Shine Elasto Painters escaped with a 110-109 win over TNT Tropang Giga in Game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals on Sunday night at the City of Dasmarinas Arena in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Down 109-107 following a basket by Tropang Giga’s Rey Nambatac, Fuller managed to score on a three-point play after being fouled by TNT’s Roger Pogoy for a 110-109 Rain or Shine lead with 3.8 seconds left.
The Tropang Giga still had a chance to snatch the victory but Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s attack was foiled by the double-teaming defense of Fuller and Leonard Santillan at the buzzer.
Fuller finished the game with a double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds to go with two assists in 36 minutes of action as the Painters cut the best-of-seven semifinals series deficit to 1-2.
Leonard Santillan added 20 markers, including four three-pointers, while Jhonard Clarito, Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti, and Adrian Nocum contributed 15, 11, and 10, respectively, for the Painters.
Painters head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said his youth-laden team managed to pass the test of character for pulling off the Game 3 escape despite leading by as many as 12 points in the third quarter.
“Pahirapan ‘yung laro, but I think we passed the test of character today, we were able to hang in there with a strong team, with a great import, we were able to survive that,” Guiao said.
“For us, every game is just a learning process, it’s a learning experience for us, mabuti nailusot namin kasi ayaw naming ma-sweep uli kami, so at least we can say that this is a better conference for us,” he added.
John Paul Erram tallied 27 points, Hollis-Jefferson had a triple-double of 23 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds, Pogoy contributed 22, and Nambatac and Calvin Oftana finished with 17 apiece for the Tropang Giga./PN
BOX SCORE:
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.
Quarterscores: 23-27, 51-43, 86-78, 110-109.
