MANILA — Rain or Shine seized control of the Philippine Cup race after Gian Mamuyac powered a decisive late-game surge to secure a 90-84 victory over the Converge FiberXers on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.
The Elasto Painters, now sitting alone atop the standings at 7-2, leaned on Mamuyac’s poise and timely baskets in the closing minutes. The guard delivered 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a block to earn Player of the Game honors.
Leonard Santillan led Rain or Shine with 16 points, while Andrei Caracut added 13. Michael Malonzo and Caelan Tiongson chipped in 10 each.
Trailing 74-75 entering the final stretch, the Painters unleashed a critical 9-0 run. Caracut converted a three-point play before Mamuyac, Malonzo, and Adrian Nocum scored in succession to push Rain or Shine ahead, 83-75.
Converge repeatedly cut the lead to six—last at 81-87 on a Jhaymo Eguilos basket—before Mamuyac buried a dagger three-pointer to shut the door on the FiberXers.
Rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño spearheaded Converge with 20 points, Larry Muyang had 18, while Alec Stockton and Justine Baltazar added 11 and 10, respectively. The FiberXers dropped to 6-3.
Meanwhile, the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots punched their ticket to the quarterfinals with a commanding 98-82 win over the NLEX Road Warriors.
Zavier Lucero dominated on both ends with 18 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks for the Hotshots, who improved to 6-3. Rome dela Rosa added 14 markers, Andy Mark Barroca tallied 12, and James Laput and Chris Koon produced 11 apiece in a balanced Magnolia attack.
Jayvee Mocon and Robert Bolick Jr. led NLEX with 12 points each, while Kevin Alas, Jonnel Policarpio, and Xyrus Torres contributed 11. The Road Warriors slid to 3-6./PN
