Jhonard Clarito steers Rain or Shine to an opening win in its best-of-five quarterfinal series against Magnolia in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
Rain or Shine took the first swing as it hacked out a 109-105 win over Magnolia in Game 1 of their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinal tiff on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Jhonard Clarito finished with 20 points and five rebounds for the Elasto Painters, which gained a headstart in the race-to-three affair.
It was Aaron Fuller, though, who served as anchor on both ends as he dropped 24 points and 20 rebounds.
Adrian Nocum scored 14 points, while Santi Santillan and Gian Mamuyac had 12 points apiece.
The Elasto Painters wiped out a 91-100 deficit in the final 6:21 then snatched a 103-102 lead on the crest of a furious 12-2 rally in the final stretch.
Magnolia, though, refused to fold, with Zav Lucero hitting a triple a minute later to close in, 105-106.
Clarito then canned three of four free throws before Rain or Shine forced Paul Lee to take a tough four-pointer that rimmed out at the buzzer.
Rayvonte Rice paced Magnolia with 16 points, two rebounds and an assist while Paul Lee and Jerick Ahanmisi fired 15 points each.