PBA IMAGES
J’Nathan Bullock could’ve been the clutch hero who would’ve led seventh-seeded Rain or Shine to an upset of second-seeded TNT in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.
Instead, Bullock was the unfortunate jester who made the errant pass.
TNT held on to win 118-114 and advanced to the semifinals while the Elasto Painters walked out of Smart Araneta Coliseum as the last casualties of the quarterfinals.
“I read the play wrong,” said Bullock admitted of the costly miscommunication in the winding seconds of the game.
Rain or Shine trailed 116-114 with 10 seconds left and Bullock was tasked to either take the final shot or find an open teammate.
Bullock decided to give it to an open teammate who ended up to be Beau Belga, but the two weren’t on the same page on Rain or Shine’s final set play.
Belga sagged off to the corner anticipating a pass for an open jumper as Bullock drove from the top of the key with TNT import Glen Rice Jr. guarding him.
Bullock thought Belga would stay in the lane for a layup.
The miscommunication led to a turnover as Belga desperately tried to chase the ball that eventually went out of bounds with 1.4 seconds left in the clock.
“I felt like Glen Rice Jr. stepped up on me and we had player that would’ve been wide open under the basket,” said Bullock who finished with 30 points. “I made that read but I should’ve just kept the ball and took the shot.”