Early leaders in this PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup and familiar foes TNT Tropang 5G and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters faced off at the Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention in Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao for a marquee Saturday showdown.
The two teams didn’t disappoint, battling tooth and nail up to the final seconds until Rain or Shine ultimately notched a 91-89 victory as time expired on TNT’s last-gasp possession. With the win, the Elasto Painters grabbed solo first in the standings at 6-2, while TNT joined five other teams with identical 5-2 slates.
What Happened?
The Tropa started the game hitting six triples and a four-pointer to finish the first quarter ahead, 31-18. That hot start forced the Elasto Painters to play catch-up the rest of the way—up until the early part of the fourth when they finally nudged ahead, 83-81, after starting the payoff period on a 9-0 run. It was nip-and-tuck from that point on, with Rain or Shine ultimately sealing the comeback with a hustle play off a missed free throw that gave TNT little time to go for either a game-tying or game-winning basket.
Who Stood Out?
Gabe Norwood was a steadying presence all game long for Rain or Shine, and he even put up the numbers: 16 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. Gian Mamuyac then teamed up with Norwood in the fourth to help Rain or Shine erase that 16-point TNT lead. Mamuyac finished with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.
TNT, who was in control for most of the game, got steady contributions from Henry Galinato Jr., who came away with a season-high 18 points on top of 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. RR Pogoy also had 18 to help TNT build that lead in the first three quarters.
3 Keys to the Game
- Inside scoring. Rain or Shine got back in the game mostly by attacking the paint, even with Galinato and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser serving as a fortress. That aggressiveness and daring paid off as the Elasto Painters picked up 44 points in the paint compared to TNT’s 24.
- Tenacity. Norwood and company could’ve simply rolled over after the Tropa repeatedly foiled their rallies in the second and third quarters. But the Elasto Painters kept fighting and fighting until they tied the game at 81 early in the fourth. With an upset firmly in sight, Rain or Shine pulled out all the stops in the end to get the win.
- Hustle. That tenacity showed in the hustle displayed by the Elasto Painters. In fact, the ending was all hustle for Rain or Shine, with Caelan Tiongson tapping a missed free throw to the sideline and then saving it to Mike Malonzo. Malonzo lost the ball, but that bit of hustle ran precious time off, leaving TNT no time to attempt a final shot to send the game to OT or win it.
Next Up for the PBA
The PBA Philippine Cup will hold this Sunday its penultimate game day before going on a three-week break for Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA window against Guam. The double-header will be a special one as the league will play its usual Sunday schedule at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. The Titan Ultra Giant Risers will take on the NLEX Warriors in the first game, followed by the Phoenix Fuel Masters facing off against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
NLEX vs. Titan Ultra (5:15 p.m.)
Ginebra vs. Phoenix (7:30 p.m.)
