Rain or Shine pounces on shorthanded TNT to stay alive, force Game 6

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Gian Mamuyac and Jhonard Clarito show the way as Rain or Shine staves off elimination in the PBA Philippine Cup, dragging TNT to a Game 6 in the semifinals for the first time this season

MANILA, Philippines – For the first time in its three semifinal encounters with TNT this season, Rain or Shine has forced a Game 6.

The Elasto Painters staved off elimination in the PBA Philippine Cup, pouncing on a Tropang 5G side missing key players and their head coach en route to a 113-97 blowout in Game 5 at the Araneta Coliseum on Friday, July 4.

Gian Mamuyac and Jhonard Clarito showed the way as Rain or Shine outdid itself after losing to TNT in five games in the semifinals of the first two conferences.

“We survived another day,” said Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao. “This is the closest we’ve been to the finals. So we look at it as a really positive development for us. At last, we’ve won two games in the semis.”

All signs pointed to Rain or Shine staying alive as the Tropang 5G missed Roger Pogoy, Kelly Williams, and head coach Chot Reyes.

Pogoy missed a third straight game due to his hamstring injury, Williams sat out after hurting his ankle in Game 4, while Reyes served a one-game suspension for picking up his fifth technical foul of the conference.

The Elasto Painters did not disappoint.

Mamuyac poured 16 of his team-high 22 points in the first quarter to help Rain or Shine mount a 28-24 lead before the rest of the team followed suit, with the Elasto Painters outscoring the Tropang 5G, 37-12, in the third quarter.

Clarito backstopped Mamuyac, who also churned out 3 assists and 3 steals, with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut, and Keith Datu supplied 11 points each.

Datu and Caracut scored 7 points each and Clarito tallied 6 points in the pivotal third quarter, allowing Rain or Shine to pull away, its lead growing to as big as 35 points, 99-64.

“Every time we play, we just compete. We just run what we do in practice and if our game holds up, we win. If not, we’re happy to accept the result as long as we give it our best,” said Guiao.

Calvin Oftana paced TNT with 23 points, although he proved to be a non-factor in the second half.

Despite nursing an ankle sprain, Oftana unloaded 21 points in the first half to keep the Tropang 5G afloat, but he got limited to just 2 points in the third quarter and was held scoreless in the fourth period.

The Scores

Rain or Shine 113 – Mamuyac 22, Clarito 19, Nocum 11, Caracut 11, Malonzo 8, Tiongson 8, Asistio 7, Santillan 7, Ildefonso 5, Porter 2, Norwood 2, Borboran 0, Escandor 0.

TNT 97 – Oftana 23, Enciso 20, Khobuntin 13, Aurin 13, Galinato 9, Vosotros 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Heading 3, Erram 2, Heruela 0, Nieto 0, Varilla 0.

Quarters: 28-24, 56-52, 93-64, 113-97.

– Rappler.com