BEHIND by just a solitary point in the final 3.1 ticks last Sunday night, defending champion TNT inbounded the ball to import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who drove hard for a lefty floater against Rain or Shine reinforcement Aaron Fuller and veteran Gabe Norwood.
The crowd at the City of Dasmariñas Arena and both teams held their breath as the ball bounced off the glass and hit the rim.
The shot looked good but the Elasto Painters and coach Yeng Guiao’s fervent prayers were finally answered by cage gods, their agonizing six-game dry spell in the Last Four dating back to the last conference finally ending in bittersweet fashion.
“Pahirapan iyong laro pero I think we passed the test of character,” Guiao said. “We were able to hang in there with a strong team, great import. Poy (Erram) probably played one of his best games.
“We were able to survive that. So, to us, every game is just a learning process, it’s a learning experience to us,” he added.
Guiao spoke after his charges nipped the Tropang Giga 110-109 in Game 3 of their best-of-7 semifinals clash in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
The Painters’ hard-earned triumph in front of a big crowd trimmed their deficit in the race-to-4 battle to 1-2.
More importantly, Rain or Shine averted a possible sweep–the same fate the Painters absorbed at the hands of the San Miguel Beermen in the semis of the last Philippine Cup.
“Mabuti nailusot namin kasi ayaw namin ulit na ma-sweep kami kamukha noong nangyari doon sa last semis namin with San Miguel,” Guiao said. “So, at least we can say, whatever happens, this is going to be a better conference for us.
“Also, we get ourselves back in the series. It gives us confidence that we can beat TNT. Their import played great. Poy played great but I think we played more as a team. We spread out responsibility.”
Fuller shone for Rain or Shine with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and two assists but none bigger than a three-point play conversion off a Roger Pogoy foul that pegged what proved to be the final count with 3.8 seconds left.
Leonard Santillan chipped in 20 markers and six boards while Jhoanard Clarito, Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti, and Adrian Nocum also did their part with 15, 11, and 10 points, respectively, as Rain or Shine rebounded from a 91-108 drubbing in the second tiff last Friday.
Game 4 is set tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We’re able to weather the storm and come out on top,” Fuller said after his side squandered a 15-point third quarter edge (64-49).
Erram produced 27 points and grabbed five caroms for the Tropang Giga while Hollis-Jefferson supplied a triple-double of 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 dimes.
Pogoy, Rey Nambatac, and Calvin Oftana also got 22, 17, and 17n markers, respectively for TNT.
“We were looking to break the ice somewhat. So, we were just trying to focus on winning one game. After the Game 2 loss, I was talking to the guys, manalo lang tayo ng isan iyon muna,” Guiao said.
“Kasi mahirap naman na pangarapin mo makarating ka ng finals nang hindi ka nananalo ng isa. Iyon lang, focus lang tayo.”
Will their Game 3 victory galvanize the Painters? Guiao hopes so.
