The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters overcame the NLEX Road Warriors’ twice-to-beat advantage with a 103-92 win in their do-or-die quarterfinal matchup in the PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Leonard Santillan powered the Painters with 24 points, including two triples, along with nine rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals as they booked a semifinals rematch with the TNT Tropang Giga.
Andrei Caracut chipped in 16 points, Jhonard Clarito tallied a double-double of 13 points and 16 rebounds, while Anton Asistio and Mike Malonzo added 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
Trailing 55-63 early in the third quarter, the Painters came alive with a flurry of three-pointers from Clarito, Santillan, Gian Mamuyac, and Malonzo to close the gap to 75-77, before a Caracut triple gave them a 78-77 lead.
Rain or Shine kept the momentum in the fourth, with Malonzo and Clarito anchoring a run that stretched the lead to 96-82. NLEX tried to mount a comeback, sparked by a four-point play from Robert Bolick Jr., but Clarito’s timely baskets shut the door.
“Nakaraos uli kami. This is our fourth straight time na nakalusot sa semis,” said Rain or Shine head coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao. “I just told them to play our brand of basketball, which is buwis-buhay brand. Just try to make the best effort.”
Bolick led the Road Warriors with 34 points, six rebounds, and four assists. JB Bahio and Brandon Ramirez added 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing effort.
The post Rain or Shine stuns NLEX to reach Philippine Cup semis anew first appeared on Fastbreak.
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