Rain or Shine continued to roll, preying on erstwhile undefeated NLEX, 124-105, to emerge as the only unbeaten Group B team in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Elasto Painters unleashed a second quarter turnaround and never looked back since then to improve to 3-0 and claim solo leadership of Group B. The Road Warriors, on the other hand, endured their first loss to go 2-1.
“Nag-pasensiya lang kami. We just tried to recover from the shock first quarter so medyo nakakabigla ‘yung first quarter pero sabi ko let’s just weather the storm, play our game,” Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said.
Rain or Shine, which was coming off a big win against Barangay Ginebra, had to buck a shaky start, allowing NLEX to put up 40 points in the first quarter against their 24.
But the wards of Guiao woke up to reality early on, turning the tides in the second quarter by unloading 34 points fueled by nine points each from Jhonard Clarito and Gian Mamuyac as they headed to the break holding a 58-54 lead.
It was all Rain or Shine from that point, even leading by 18 in the third frame after a 24-8 rampage, 84-66.
Michael Miranda tried to give some hope to NLEX, burying two four-point shots that enabled them to cut the deficit to a single digit halfway through the payoff period, 99-106.
But Clarito, together with the other young guns Andrei Caracut, Caelan Tiongson, and Mamuyac, made sure the win didn’t slip away from them as Rain or Shine closed it out with an 18-6 run.
Clarito, the Most Improved Player last season, starred with 24 points and five steals.
Scores:
Rain or Shine 124 – Clarito 24, Mamuyac 22, Fuller 21, Caracut 17, Tiongson 10, Lemetti 9, Datu 6, Santillan 3, Nocum 3, Asistio 3, Escandor 3, Ildefonso 2, Norwood 1, Villegas 0, Belga 0.
NLEX 105 – Bolick 22, Henry 21, Rodger 16, Miranda 15, Policarpio 13, Fajardo 9, Amer 6, Nieto 3, Valdez 0, Semerad 0, Marcelo 0, Herndon 0.
Quarters: 24-40, 58-54, 91-83, 124-105.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
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