Rain or Shine Elastopainters’ Aaron Fuller rises for a shot against Magnolia defenders during a PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals game. –PBA IMAGES
Rain or Shine survived a flurry of long-range shots by Magnolia in the fourth quarter to eke out a 109-105 victory and open their best-of-five quarterfinal series in the PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Elasto Painters bucked a 10-point fourth quarter deficit after the Hotshots launched two four-pointers and three triples, with import Aaron Fuller, Jhonard Clarito and rookie Caelan Tiongson leading the way.
Fuller had 24 points and 20 rebounds, Clarito posted 20 points while Tiongson delivered the go-ahead three that put Rain or Shine back in front, 103-102, entering the homestretch.
SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals
Several stops in the end allowed Rain or Shine to gain a headstart in the playoff duel pitting the No. 1 team from Group B and the No. 4 seed from Group A in Magnolia.
Game 2 is set Friday in Sta. Rosa, Laguna as the Elasto Painters hope to close in on a place in the semis.
Magnolia couldn’t get the win despite knocking down six of 12 quadruples, with two coming from Jerrick Ahanmisi who finished with 15 points.
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Rayvonte Rice, the replacement import for Shabazz Muhammad, posted 16 points but was 6-of-20 from the field.
It was the second game in a Magnolia uniform for Rice, who scored just five in the team’s final group stage match at the hands of Converge.
Paul Lee, who also scored 15, had a chance to force overtime but his hurried four-pointer before the horn didn’t hit the mark.