Fuller Import Aaron Fuller gets job done for Rain or Shine. PBA photo

Here comes Rain or Shine

October 7, 2024 Robert Andaya 216 views
Clarito
Jhonard Clarito provides ample support. PBA photo

RAIN or Shine import Aaron Fuller may not be as explosive as the other imports, but he still gets the job done.

And that’s more important as far as Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao is concerned.

Fuller finished with 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting, nine rebounds, and three assists as Rain or Shine defeated Magnolia, 113-103, in the deciding Game 5 of their best-of-five series in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

“Aaron’s value is simple. We will not be here if not for Aaron. He carried us on his broad shoulders,”said Guiao of the 34-year-old forward outof Arizona, USA.

“He’s a silent leader, doesn’t talk much, but his action speaks for themselves. He just works hard,”added Guiao.

“Magnolia’s defense was just clamping down on him, double teamed, tripled teamed, sometimes the whole team is around him, and sometimes he’s frustrated because he doesn’t get the foul he feels he should get.”

With the win, Rain or Shine slammed the door on Magnolia and arranged a best-of-seven semifinal series with defending champion TNT Tropang Giga.

Six other players also scored in double figures for the E-Painters, with Jhonard Clarito and Adrian Nocum adding 17 points apiece.

The E-Painters also got 14 points from Andrei Caracut, 12 points from Leonard Santillan, and 11 points each from Keith Datu and veteran big man Beau Belga.

Import Javari Bird led the losing effort for the Hotshots with 23 points and 15 rebounds.

Calvin Abueva added 16 points, followed by Jerrick Ahanmisi with 15 and Ian Sangalang with 12.

Magnolia, however, missed the services of the injury-hit Zavier Lucero in the last two games.

Rain or Shine’s semifinal opponent is TNT, which dispatched Meralco Bolts in four games in their own quarterfinal showdown.

The scores:

Rain or Shine (113) — Fuller 26, Clarito 17, Nocum 17, Caracut 14, Santillan 12, Datu 11, Belga 11, Lemetti 5, Mamuyac 2, Asistio 1, Norwood 0.
Magnolia (103) — Bird 23, Abueva 16, Ahanmisi 15, Sangalang 12, Lee 9, Dionisio 9, Dela Rosa 9, Barroca 6, Eriobu 4, Mendoza 0, Reavis 0.
Quarterscores: 20-29, 52-55, 85-83, 113-103.

The results:

Game 1– Rain or Shine 109, Magnolia 105.
Game 2– Magnolia 121, Rain or Shine 69.
Game 3 — Rain or Shine 111, Magnolia 106.
Game 4 — Magnolia 129, Rain or Shine 100.
Game 5 — Rain or Shine 113, Magnolia 103.
(Rain or Shine wins series, 3-2)

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