Beau Belga battles two TNT defenders. PbA photo
Underdog
THE PBA semifinal round cast is complete.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters blew a 20-point lead but recovered in time to neat TNT Tropang Giga, 110-109, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Gian Mamuyac, Jhonard Clarito and Santi Santillan came through with the much-needed baskets for the Elasto Painters, who advanced to the semis for the first time since the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.
Mamuyac finished with a team-high 25 points on 11-of-20 shooting in almost 34 minutes of action for the Yeng Guiao-mentored E-Painters.
Clarito contributed 17 points and nine rebounds, while Santillan added 15 points and four rebounds in the E-Painters’ return trip to the semis.
The E-Painters also got 11 points each from Keith Datu and Adrian Nocum and 10 points from Shaun Ildefonso.
Datu also had six rebounds while Nocum had six rebounds.
Veteran Kelly Williams led the Tropang Giga with 32 points on 13-of-20 shooting and 14 rebounds in 39 minutes of play for coach Chot Reyes.
Calvin Oftana added 27 points, nine rebounds and four assists, RR Pogoy had 22 points, six rebounds and four assists and Glenn Khobuntin chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.
“Masyado kaming swerte dahil kulang ang TNT at maganda ang start namin. Buti na nga lang maganda ang start namin. Ganoon sila (TNT) kagaling. Kahit kulang sila, they showed class. Kinayod nila at muntik pa nilang kunin ang game.” said Guiao.
Now, the E-Painters and Guiao hope to get ready for the next challenge ahead: a best-of-seven semifinal duel with defending champion San Miguel Beer starting Friday.
“Tatlo yata ang starting five nitong San Miguel. Wala kaming panapat, pero syempre susubukan namin lumaban,” Guiao explained.
The other semis match will pit long-time rivals Barangay Ginebra Kings and Meralco Bolts.
The Kings and the Bolts also begin their own series at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The scores:
Rain or Shine (110) — Mamuyac 25, Clarito 17, Santillan 15, Datu 11, Nocum 11, Ildefonso 10, Norwood 6, Caracut 5, Asistio 5, Belga 5, Demusis 0.
TNT (109) — K.Williams 32, Oftana 27, Pogoy 22, Khobuntin 10, Montalbo 4, Castro 4, Aurin 4, Galinato 2, Heruela 2, M.Ganuelas-Rosser 2, Reyes 0, Ponferrada 0.
Quarterscores: 39-22, 59-45, 89-72, 110-109.
Games Friday:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
4:30 p.m.– Rain or Shine vs. San Miguel Beer
7:30 p.m. — Meralco vs. Ginebra
