MANILA — Rain or Shine Elasto Painters unleashed a decisive fourth-quarter surge to repel Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 91-82, and tighten their grip on the standings with an 8-1 record in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Gian Mamuyac delivered an all-around performance with 25 points, five assists, three steals, two rebounds, and a block to earn Player of the Game honors as the Painters quickly bounced back from their first loss of the conference.
Import Jaylen Johnson anchored the inside with a dominant double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Jhonard Clarito added 18 markers as Rain or Shine erased a four-point deficit entering the final period.
Trailing for most of the contest, the Painters seized control in the fourth quarter, turning a 66-70 deficit into an 83-75 advantage behind key conversions from Adrian Nocum, Clarito, and Johnson.
Magnolia threatened late, cutting the gap to 79-83 with over two minutes remaining, but Clarito and Johnson combined for back-to-back baskets before Mamuyac sank two free throws to seal the victory.
Clinton Chapman posted 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Zavier Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa chipped in 16 points apiece for the Hotshots, who slipped to a 4-5 slate.
In the nightcap, NLEX Road Warriors staged a strong second-half turnaround to defeat Terrafirma Dyip, 95-85.
After trailing by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Road Warriors ignited a 19-4 run to open the third quarter, flipping the game and eventually stretching their lead to as high as 18 points in the fourth.
Terrafirma mounted a late push to trim the deficit to 85-89 with just over a minute remaining, but Cady Lalanne converted two free throws before Robert Bolick Jr. buried a four-point play to put the game out of reach.
Bolick led NLEX with 20 points, including 17 in the second half, while LJay Gonzales and JB Bahio added 16 markers each. Lalanne finished with a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds./PN
