DASMARINAS, Cavite — Despite a 0-2 deficit to defending champion TNT Tropang Giga, Rain or Shine won’t roll over and die.

Import Aaron Fuller and Santi Santillan finally stepped up as Rain or Shine defeated TNT Tropang Giga,110-109, in Game 3 of their best-of-seven semifinal series in the PBA Govenrors’ Cup at the Dasmarinas Arena here Sunday.

Fuller finished with 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting, and 16 rebounds in almost 37 minutes of play while Santillan added 20 points and six rebounds for the E-Painters, who kept their hopes alive.

The E-Painters also got 15 points from Jhonard Clarito, 11 points from Felix Lemetti and 10 points from Adrian Nocum.

JP Erram tallied 27 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks for the Chot Reyes-mentored Tropang Giga.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added a triple-double with 23 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds in 46 minutes of action for the Tropang Giga.

RR Pogoy added 22 points and Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana contributed 17 points each.

Game 4 of the series is scheduled on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Hollis-Jefferson, Erram, Pogoy and Rey Nambatac actually gave the Tropang Giga a 109-107 lead with 1:19 left.

But Fuller, who was fouled by Pogoy as he went for the basket, converted his and-1 to give the E-Painters a one-point lead.

The Tropang Giga had a chance to steal the win but Hollis-Jefferson missed a potential game-winner..

The scores:

Rain or Shine (110) — Fuller 26, Santillan 20, Clarito 15, Lemetti 11, Nocum 10, Datu 7, Mamuyac 6, Norwood 6, Caracut 5, Belga 2, Asistio 2.
TNT (109) — Erram 27, Hollis-Jefferson 23, Pogoy 22, Nambatac 17, Oftana 17, Aurin 2, Khobuntin 1, Galinato 0, Exciminiano 0, Varilla 0, Heruela 0.
Quarterscores: 23-27, 51-43, 86-78, 110-109

Games Wednesday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m.– TNT vs. Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m.– Barangay Ginebra vs. San Miguel

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya