Rain or Shine guard Andrei Caracut.–PBA IMAGES
Rain or Shine averted a surprising collapse with a giant fourth-quarter comeback to go 3-1 within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on the expense of slumping Magnolia.
But for coach Yeng Guiao, Wednesday’s 102-100 squeaker at Ninoy Aquino Stadium has a special feeling.
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“Dati wala kaming (before, we didn’t have a) ending kick, ‘di namin masara yung laro (we often can’t close out games),” Guiao said.
The Elasto Painters wasted a 13-point lead within the third quarter and fell behind by 12 within the fourth, but went on a 16-2 windup that put them in a tie with the Meralco Bolts for third place within the standings.
Andrei Caracut scored 10 of his 15 points within the payoff period, including the tying four-pointer to make it 100-all with lower than 4 minutes to go. Adrian Nocum’s layup after he and Santi Santillan forced Paul Lee to show the ball over led to the basket that proved to be the difference.
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No team scored in the ultimate three minutes, which spelled doom for Magnolia in absorbing one other stinging defeat for the often contending squad.
“We had the sport under control, but we lost our momentum,” Guiao lamented in Filipino. “But the advantage of that is that we made an important comeback. Prior to now, we might just fold, so I see this as a superb sign that the character of the team has modified.”
Magnolia fell to 1-4 with its fourth straight setback not only after blowing its lead, but losing import Ricardo Ratliffe to 6 fouls and failing to attain within the last six minutes to eventually lose a 100-88 lead.
“Magnolia got here out in full force,” Guiao said of the Hotshots, who had Paul Lee back after missing several games with a rib injury. “They were struggling of their previous games but they’re a unique team in the event that they’re complete. We actually got lucky.”
Bolts exit EASL
Import Deon Thompson posted 18 points, 15 rebounds, three steals and three blocks in one other solid showing for Rain or Shine whilst Santillan led all local scorers with 17.
Ratliffie finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds with Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca adding 21 and 18, respectively.
Meanwhile, Meralco suffered a giant blow in its quest to succeed in the Final 4 of the East Asia Super League after losing a giant lead in a 72-68 loss to South Korea’s Busan KCC Egis on the road. INQ
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