PBA: Aaron Fuller, Rain or Shine escape TNT to avoid 0-3 hole
Aaron Fuller leads Rain or Shine past TNT in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals game 3. –PBA IMAGES
Rain or Shine blew a big lead on Sunday night but still had enough energy to hack out a 110-109 Game 3 victory over TNT in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals.
Import Aaron Fuller hit a tough layup with 3.8 ticks left and then nailed the subsequent freebie to help the ElastoPainters pull through at the City of Dasmariñas Arena here and avoid going down in a big hole in the best-of-seven showdown with the defending conference champions.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: PBA: TNT pulls away to beat Rain or Shine for 2-0 semis lead
“Pahirapan yung laro, pero I think we passed the test of character today. We were able to hang in there with a strong team with a great import. Poy probably also played one of his best games,” said coach Yeng Guiao, whose crew captured their breakthrough win in the series.
“I just had confidence in myself, knowing we didn’t want to go 0-3. A tall order to try to come back from 0-3. We just tried to lay it all down out there,” said Fuller.
Article continues after this advertisementFuller finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds, while Leonard Santillan chipped in 20 points and six boards. Jhonard Clarito, Felix Lemetti and Adrian Nocum all delivered twin-digit scores as Rain or Shine extended its winning ways on the road to three games.
READ: PBA: RHJ gets the edge over Aaron Fuller in first showdown
Poy Erram played his finest game this season, putting up 27 points for TNT. Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Roger Pogoy both had at least 20 points, while former Guiao players Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana both chipped in 17 points in the narrow loss that could’ve given the powerhouse a psychological edge in the race.
“Every game is a learning experience for us, mabuti nailusot namin kasi ayaw naming masweep kami kamukha nung last semis namin sa San Miguel. So whatever happens, we could say this is a good conference for us. Also this gets us back in the series,” said Guiao.
The Scores :
RAIN OR SHINE 110 – Fuller 26, Santillan 20, Clarito 15, Lemetti 11, Nocum 10, Datu 7, Mamuyac 6, Norwood 6, Caracut 5, Belga 2, Asistio 2
TNT 109 – Erram 27, Hollis-Jefferson 23, Pogoy 22, Nambatac 17, Oftana 17, Aurin 2, Khobuntin 1, Galinato 0, Exciminiano 0, Varilla 0, Heruela 0
QUARTERS : 23-27, 51-43, 86-78, 110-109
