Adrian Nocum and the rest of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters finally notch one over the TNT Tropang Giga in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
Adrian Nocum was amiable and polite as he answered questions from the press at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday, March 2.
But he was exactly the opposite on the court.
He was fierce whenever he held the basketball in Rain or Shine’s 103-98 win over TNT in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
Nocum also made the right decisions in the face of a Rondae Hollis-Jefferson rally in the endgame, including his dishing out of a pass to Caelan Tiongson inside for the easy basket with under a minute left to play.
He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists, enough to earn the Player of the Game honors as the team scored their first win in the race-to-four contest.
“'Yung sinasabi ni coach noong nakaraan na decision-making namin sa end game, sa ngayon, nagawan namin ng paraan,” said Nocum.
“Nanalo kami ngayon. Maganda ang naging decision-making namin.”
[RELATED STORY: Rain or Shine pushes back, scores crucial Game 3 win over TNT in PBA Comm's Cup semis]
Deon Thompson was also spectacular in the match, putting up a double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds. He also registered four assists, a steal and a block.
High-flying Adrian Nocum continues to wow PBA fans. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Tiongson bore the brunt of the defensive assignment against Hollis-Jefferson while also delivering on the offensive end. He finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal.
Tiongson's basket with under a minute left to play gave Rain or Shine a 98-90 buffer, but RHJ refused to fold and tried to single-handedly will his team back.
The two-time Best Import knocked down two four-pointers in the final stretch, the last one pushing the Tropang Giga to within three, 98-101, with 4.3 ticks to go.
Gian Mamuyac, however, was there to completely shut the door on TNT with a pair of free throws.
Hollis-Jefferson, who is fasting from morning to sundown as Ramadan begins, still fired a game-high 34 points and hauled down 19 boards.
But his herculean effort proved futile for the Tropang Giga, who missed the services of stabilizer and leader Jayson Castro due to a patellar tendon tear that will sideline him for the rest of the season.
[RELATED STORY: Jayson Castro out for the PBA season after knee injury in TNT's Game 2 win over Rain or Shine]
RR Pogoy added 21 points, while Calvin Oftana had 13 points and five rebounds.
The Scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 103 – Thompson 19, Tiongson 18, Nocum 16, Asistio 12, Mamuyac 9, Santillan 8, Clarito 7, Norwood 7, Datu 4, Caracut 3, Lemetti 0.
TNT 98 – Hollis-Jefferson 34, Pogoy 21, Oftana 13, Erram 10, Williams 8, Aurin 8, Nambatac 2, Khobuntin 2, Heruela 0, Razon 0.
Quarterscores: 21-21, 49-43, 75-73, 103-98