Rain or Shine overcomes 27-point deficit to beat Meralco in OT

Gabe Norwood vs Cliff Hodge and Kelly Nabong. PBA/Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine rallied from 27 points down to outlast Meralco in overtime 102-98 Wednesday in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Gabe Norwood mustered enough strength in extra session to sink the go-ahead basket 98-97 with only 29.3 seconds remaining.

Norwood also made one-of-two at the line before sealing his team’s come-from-behind win with a big rebound off a Sol Mercado miss that would’ve tied the game anew.

“We have to give credit to the guys they didn’t give up. We were just patient in the second half,” said ROS head coach Yeng Guiao.

Sol Mercado single-handedly brought the Meralco back in the final two minutes of regulation. The Bolts trailed 79-88 after Jeff Chan completed a three-point play with 1:54 left.

Mercado unloaded nine straight points, all from long-range to forge overtime with both squads tied at 88 as Chan missed on three attempts to win the game for ROS.

The Elasto Painters found themselves buried under a 27-point hole 30-57 at the 8:06 mark of the third period before a 30-8 blast to end the quarter chopped the deficit down to just five 60-65 to start the fourth quarter.

Chan unloaded 14 of his team-high 25 points in the pivotal third period, where Rain or Shine shot 64 percent from the field and out-rebounded Meralco, 13-5.

For more details on the game click to https://sports.inquirer.net/72297/rain-or-shine-dumps-meralco-bolts-in-overtime-102-98