Painters hold on vs Bossing to book quarters berth

MANILA, Philippines -- Rain or Shine punched a ticket to the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals after surviving the Blackwater Bossing, 125-123, Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. 

The Elasto Painters saw their 11-point lead with three minutes remaining evaporate to just one with exactly 18 seconds left, but they managed to hold on late. 

Aaron Fuller had a monster double-double of 24 points and 19 rebounds in the win. Caelan Tiongson added 22 markers, three boards and three dimes, while Adrian Nocum had 20 points. 

Leading by four, 95-91, heading into the fourth quarter, Rain or Shine built a bit of separation in the final frame. 

The lead grew to as much as 13 points, 115-102, with 5:14 remaining after a layup by Fuller. 

While the Bossing tried to claw back, cutting the deficit to seven, 110-107, after a triple by RK Ilagan, Rain or Shine hit timely shots thanks to Nocum and Felix Lemetti to push the lead back to 11, 121-110, with 2:50 to go. 

A triple by Ilagan, followed by a pair of free throws by Kentrell Barkley, made it a six-point ballgame, but seemingly a dagger triple by Michael Malonzo kept the two teams apart, 124-115, with 1:16 left. 

However, a 4-pointer by Sedrick Barefield, a split from the line by Barkley and a pullup 3-pointer by Dalph Panopio made it a 123-124 affair with 18 seconds to go. 

On the other end, Nocum was fouled to stop the clock. He made the first and missed the second, giving Blackwater a window of opportunity to tie or go for the win. 

They went to Barefield, who pulled up from deep, but his shot hit all rim as time expired.

Felix Lemetti added 17 points in the win while Malonzo had 13. Deo Cuajao and Andrei Caracut supplied 11 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Elasto Painters. 

Barkley exploded for 35 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block for the losing team. Barefield dumped 31 on an 8-of-21 shootin clip and pulled down six boards.

Ilagan and Panopio provided ample support with 24 and 13 points, respectively. 

Rain or Shine is now assured of a quarterfinal berth with a 5-3 win-loss record. Blackwater, on the other hand, dropped to 3-6, and will face an uphill battle for a ticket to the next round.