MANILA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters relied on a crippling endgame run to defeat TNT Tropang Giga, 121-113, in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
After seeing their 106-97 lead turned to a 109-111 deficit, the Painters went on a 10-0 run — a layup by Leonard Santillan, a triple by Jhonard Clarito, an inside hit by Adrian Nocum, and an outside hit by Andrei Caracut, for a 119-111 lead.
The Tropang Giga attempted to make their last push as Jayson Castro sailed to the basket for a layup, but a counter basket from Caracut with under a minute left sealed the win for the Painters.
Clarito finished with 29 points, including a perfect 5-of-5 three-point shooting, to go with seven rebounds and four assists as the Painters forced a do-or-die Game 3 after tying the best-of-three series at 1-1.
Caracut added 21 markers with two outside shots, Santillan and Nocum contributed 20 points apiece, and Gian Mamuyac provided spark in the second half with 12 markers for the Painters.
“Ang importante sa akin, ‘yung batang team namin, natututo nang lumaban sa endgame kasi ‘yun ang mga problema ng younger teams, maturity na rin or puwedeng suwerte din sa situation nila,” said Painters head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao.
Roger Pogoy top-scored with 28 points, Castro added 17 markers, while rookie Kim Aurin and Glenn Khobuntin ended with 15 and 13 points, respectively, for the Tropang Giga.
Meanwhile, No. 8 ranked Terrafirma Dyip stayed alive in the quarterfinals after a 106-95 stunner against No. 1 ranked and twice-to-beat incentive holder San Miguel Beermen on Saturday night.
George Isaac Go finished with a career-high of 22 points, including six three-point conversions, to be named Player of the Game as the Dyip notched their first-ever playoff win in franchise history.
Juan Miguel Tiongson led the way with 29 points, rookie Stephen Holt added 25 markers, and Javi Gomez de Liano contributed 15 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists for the Dyip./PN
BOX SCORE:
RAIN OR SHINE 121 – Clarito 29, Caracut 21, Santillan 20, Nocum 20, Mamuyac 12, Belga 6, Datu 6, Demusis 3, Ildefonso 2, Norwood 2, Asistio 0, Borboran 0.
TNT 113 – Pogoy 28, Castro 17, Aurin 15, Khobuntin 13, Oftana 11, Williams 11, B. Ganuelas-Rosser 5, Montalbo 5, Ponferrada 4, Varilla 4, Heruela 0, Galinato 0.
Quarterscores: 25-31, 62-64, 95-95, 121-113.
