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4 hours Ago
Andrei Caracut came alive just in time to bail out Rain or Shine against the struggling Magnolia, 102-100, as the Elasto Painters extended their streak in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Caracut scored 10 points to fuel a wild 16-2 closing run in the fourth period, allowing Rain or Shine to still eke out the victory despite wasting an early 13-point lead after Magnolia went on a spree early in the frame. He ended up with 15 points, laced with three assists and two rebounds, to help the Elasto Painters grab their third win in a row for a 3-1 slate.
The Hotshots, meanwhile, were dealt their fourth loss in a row to go 1-4. "Mahirap dahil Magnolia came in with full force. Nu'ng previous games nila nag-struggle sila kasi hindi sila kumpleto pero nu'ng na-kumpleto sila, Paul's playing, Lucero's playing so they're a different team," Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said.
"We just got lucky, actually. But gusto ko 'yung pinakita naming laban." It was all Rain or Shine through the first three quarters before Magnolia leaned on its veterans Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang, both of whom sent them to a 12-point advantage with a 98-86 cushion early in the payoff period.
Sangalang would even convert another layup at the 6:06 mark, but the Hotshots fired blanks ever since then as the Elasto Painters stepped on the gas to turn things around. Caracacut first completed a three-point play to cut the deficit to just eight before Caelan Tiongson's corner three-pointer over Zav Lucero made it just a 95-100 disadvantage for the wards of Guiao. Deon Thompson then split his charities as Caracut bravely took a four-point shot to force a 100-all deadlock with still 3:49 left in the clock.
Adrian Nocum made the final shot off a steal and a dime from Santi Santillan as neither team would score another basket until the final buzzer. Magnolia, though, had plenty of chances to take the win but the returning Paul Lee and rookie guard Jerom Lastimosa missed a number of potential game-winning treys late. Thompson top-scored with a double-double outing of 18 points and 15 rebounds to go with three blocks, three steals, and one assist while Santillan backstopped with 17 markers, three boards, two dimes, one steal, andone block.
Ricardo Ratfliffe paced Magnolia with 27 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block but he was fouled out with still 2:46 to go. Ian Sangalang and Barroca tallied 21 and 18 markers apiece as they suffered another close loss. Scores: Rain or Shine 102 – Thompson 18, Santillan 17, Caracut 15, Tiongson 11, Nocum 10, Belga 7, Calrito 6, Datu 6, Lemetti 5, Malonzo 4, Asistio 2, Ildefonso 1.
Magnolia 100 – Ratliffe 27, Sangalang 21, Barroca 18, Lucero 11, Abueva 8, Lee 4, Dionisio 4, Ahanmisi 4, Dela Rosa 2, Lastimosa 1, Laput 0. Quarters : 31-23, 50-47, 81-78, 102-100. —JKC, GMA Integrated News.
