MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters rallied back from a double-digit deficit to defeat TNT Tropang 5G, 91-89, in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Saturday night at the Aquilino Q. Pimentel International Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City.
Down by as many as 18 points in the first half and were trailing 74-81 after three quarters, the Painters opened the final quarter with a 9-0 scoring blast behind Gian Mamuyac, Gabe Norwood, and Mike Malonzo to take an 83-81 lead.
The Tropang 5G surged ahead at 89-86 after baskets from Roger Pogoy and Jordan Heading, but the Painters responded with attacks from Jhonard Clarito and Andrei Caracut to take a 90-89 lead.
The Painters had a chance to widen the lead but Adrian Nocum missed on two free throws while Clarito just split his charities, but Pogoy missed on a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
Norwood led the Painters with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and a steal, while Mamuyac added 14 markers as they surged to solo first place with a 6-2 win-loss slate.
Pogoy and Rey Nambatac paced the Tropang 5G with 18 markers apiece, while Heading and Henry Galinato Jr. added 15 and 13 markers, respectively, as they fell to a 5-2 mark.
Meanwhile, Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots (5-2) stormed back from a double-digit deficit to defeat the Blackwater Bossing (1-6), 90–75, over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, the Hotshots flipped the game in their favor with a dominant 30–14 third-quarter surge that pushed them ahead, 64–55.
The LA Tenorio-mentored squad kept the pressure on in the final period, stretching the lead to its largest at 84–61 after a three-pointer by Javier Gomez de Liano.
Gomez de Liano spearheaded Magnolia with 17 points, Ian Sangalang backed him up with 16 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Zavier Lucero added 13 markers, Raffy Verano contributed 12, and Jerom Lastimosa chipped in 10./PN
BOX SCORE:
RAIN OR SHINE 91 – Norwood 16, Mamuyac 14, Santillan 8, Clarito 8, Tiongson 7, Nocum 7, Caracut 7, Lemetti 6, Asistio 5, Malonzo 4, Belga 4, Manaytay 3, Pringle 2.
TNT 89 – Nambatac 18, Pogoy 18, Heading 15, Galinato 13, Williams 9, Aurin 6, Jalalon 4, Ferrer 3, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Khobuntin 0, Erram 0.
Quarterscores: 18-31, 42-54, 74-81, 91-89.
