Rain or Shine edge Blackwater 125-123 to reach quarterfinals
Aaron Fuller recorded 24 points and 19 rebounds as the Elasto Painters improved to 5-3 in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Rain or Shine secured a PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal place by beating Blackwater 125-123 at Antipolo’s Ynares Center on October 17. The Elasto Painters survived a late comeback to move to a 5-3 record, while the Bossing fell to 3-6.
Blackwater narrowed an 11-point deficit inside the final three minutes to a single point with 18 seconds remaining. Sedrick Barefield scored a four-pointer, Kentrell Barkley added a free throw and Dalph Panopio sank a three-pointer to bring Blackwater within 124-123.
Adrian Nocum then drew a foul and converted one of his two free throws. Blackwater turned to Barefield for the last attempt, but his long-range shot struck the rim as the clock ran out.
Rain or Shine had entered the fourth quarter ahead 95-91. A Fuller layup extended the advantage to 115-102 with 5:14 remaining, and Michael Malonzo later made a three-pointer that put the Elasto Painters up 124-115 with 1:16 left.
Fuller finished with 24 points and 19 rebounds, while Caelan Tiongson contributed 22 points, three rebounds and three assists. Nocum scored 20, Felix Lemetti had 17 and Malonzo added 13.
Barkley led Blackwater with 35 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block. Barefield scored 31 points and collected six rebounds, while RK Ilagan and Panopio contributed 24 and 13 points respectively.
