Barangay Ginebra San Miguel again built a double-digit lead and survived a Rain or Shine Elasto Painters rally in the fourth to hack out a hard-earned 103-98 Game 3 victory on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The win is Ginebra’s second straight in this PBA Commissioner’s Cup semis series after dropping Game 1.
What Happened?
Rain or Shine raced out to an early 26-13 lead in the opening frame as Andrei Caracut absolutely caught fire, drilling in five triples in the first seven minutes of Game 3. The crowd darlings, though, slowly found their bearings, cutting that lead to 30-27 after outscoring the Elasto Painters, 17-4, in the final five minutes of the first. Then, Rain or Shine caught fire again, with Caelan Tiongson sinking two triples and Jaylen Johnson converting on a four-pointer to spark a 26-20 second quarter for a 56-48 lead going into halftime.
Ginebra then seized control after intermission, with Scottie Thompson scoring 10 points in a 29-12 third quarter that allowed the barangay to establish a 77-68 lead going into the final frame. The crowd darlings extended the lead to 16—94-78 with a little over five minutes left—as they looked poised to run away with the Game 3 win.
Rain or Shine, though, rallied again, getting to within 96-91 on a Tiongson triple, only for Thompson to answer right back. The Elasto Painters then closed to 99-94, again on a Tiongson trey. But Ginebra went on to seal the deal thanks to four clutch free throws from Stephen Holt.
Who Stood Out?
Thompson took charge for Ginebra, tallying a team-high 25 points on top of 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. He also presided over the barangay’s third-quarter storm and hit that huge trey down the stretch. RJ Abarrientos also came up big, scoring 10 of his 17 points in the early part of the fourth quarter. He added 3 rebounds and 5 assists.
Rain or Shine, meanwhile, saw Tiongson return with a vengeance. After missing the first two games of the series with a bum stomach, Tiongson fired 23 points on a spectacular 7-for-10 clip, including two big ones down the stretch to give the Elasto Painters life. Caracut also had his blazing-hot start, although he faltered afterward.
3 Keys to the Game
- Defense. After giving up 26 points in the first seven minutes of Game 3, Ginebra’s defense gradually picked up and turned unforgiving in the third for that game-changing 29-12 quarter. Overall, the Gin Kings held Rain or Shine to just 39.3% shooting and forced 20 turnovers.
- Making possessions count. Both teams actually turned the ball over frequently in Game 3, with Ginebra committing 18 turnovers to Rain or Shine’s 20. But the barangay did a better job capitalizing, notching 25 points off those Elasto Painters errors. Rain or Shine, in contrast, converted only 17 points off Ginebra’s miscues.
- Thompson takeover. The former MVP did it all for Ginebra, and his furious third quarter set the tone for the second half. He also helped contain Jhonard Clarito, who finished with only 5 points after getting into double digits in Games 1 and 2.
Next Up for the PBA
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (5:15 p.m.)
TNT Tropang 5G vs. Meralco Bolts (7:30 p.m.)
