Recovering from a beatdown vs. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters got back up after surviving the NLEX Road Warriors in overtime.
Adrian Nocum delivered the big blows for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in overtime against the NLEX Road Warriors, 123-114, in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Tuesday, September 17.
The spitfire guard out of Mapua dropped seven points in extra time, including the basket with 1:38 left on the clock that gave the team a 120-114 lead.
Anton Asistio then sealed their sixth win in eight games after cooly canning three free throws with 39.4 seconds to go.
NLEX, which absorbed a fourth straight loss for a 3-5 win-loss record, could not come up with another comeback this time.
“Good test for us. This is a good experience. We have to learn how to win close games,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, whose team is practically assured of a quarterfinal berth with the win.
Asistio led Rain or Shine with 25 points built on five three-pointers, while Aaron Fuller put up a double-double with 23 points and 25 rebounds.
Jhonard Clarito, who scored the putback that sent the game into overtime, finished with 15 points while Felix Lemetti and Nocum chimed in 14 and 11 points, respectively.
The win spoiled new NLEX import DeQuan Jones’ welcome party for the Road Warriors, who replaced Mykel Henry in hopes of propping up their sagging fortunes.
Jones fired 49 points but seemingly ran out of gas down the stretch. The former Shiga Lakes player also had 11 rebounds and two steals in his debut.
Down 12 in the second half of the fourth period, the Road Warriors leaned on Robert Bolick to orchestrate a searing rally.
Bolick dropped 11 in the telling 17-3 run that even got NLEX leading, 110-108, with 1:36 remaining in regulation.
Over a minute later, Clarito cleaned up the possession after Nocum’s miss in transition to tie it up at 110-all.
With 19.1 ticks left, NLEX still went to Bolick, calling an iso play against Nocum on top of the key to pull up a fade away jumper that kissed nothing but air.
Bolick still ended up flirting with a triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.
New Road Warrior Javee Mocon had nine points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal in his first game after being traded from Phoenix.
The Scores (OT):
RAIN OR SHINE 123 – Asistio 25, Fuller 23, Clarito 15, Lemetti 14, Tiongson 11, Nocum 11, Santillan 7, Datu 7, Mamuyac 5, Ildefonso 3, Belga 2, Caracut 0.
NLEX 114 – Jones 49, Bolick 28, Mocon 9, Herndon 9, Valdez 8, Miranda 6, Amer 3, Marcelo 2, Rodger 0, Semerad 0, Fajardo 0.
Quarterscores: 34-33, 56-61, 89-83, 110-110, 123-114