RAIN OR SHINE overhauled a 25-point third quarter deficit then held off Meralco’s own comeback as the Elasto Painters nailed a 102-98 overtime win over the Bolts last night in the 38th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Aside from a overcoming a huge deficit, the Painters also survived the ejections of two key players due to flagrant fouls.
Already without the injured Jireh Ibanes, the Painters lost JR Quiñahan at the 8:06 mark of the third period after the Cebuano big man committed a hard foul on a driving Sol Mercado.
Quiñahan was slapped with a flagrant foul-penalty two, which was equivalent to an automatic ejection.
The Bolts were up big, 57-32, when Quiñahan was tossed. Quiñahan’s ejection seemed to wake the Painters up as they staged a 23-8 to close the third quarter down by just five, 60-65.
Meralco was clinging on a 67-61 lead when Rain or Shine launched a 10-0 blitz to complete its comeback by taking a 71-67 lead.
Rain or Shine’s lineup further decimated when Ryan Araña, who played a big role in the team’s third quarter rally, was ejected with 4:04 left in the fourth after he was slapped with a flagrant foul-penalty two for kicking Cliff Hodge while attempting a layup.
Rain or Shine was leading, 80-72, during Araña’s ejection.
Meralco tried to complete its own remarkable fightback when they wiped out Rain or Shine’s nine-point lead in the final 1:54.
Mercado turned himself into a one-man wrecking crew in that run, hitting three straight triples that tied the count at 88-all with 35.7 seconds left in regulation.
Jeff Chan missed two attempts in the ensuing plays, sending the game into overtime.
Meralco started the extension period with a 4-0 attack but Rain or Shine countered with a 7-0 tear to move ahead, 95-92. The Bolts last tasted the lead at 98-97 with 48.9 seconds left but Gabe Norwood gave the lead back to the Painters with a running jumper with 29.3 seconds left in the clock.
Mercado missed mid-range jumper in the next play then Norwood made one of two free throws for a 100-98 Rain or Shine lead with 8.1 seconds left. Macmac Cardona turned the ball over before TY Tang iced the final tally by sinking two gift shots. Chan fired 25 points, 23 of them came in the final half as the Painters improved to 8-3 (win-loss). The Bolts dropped to 5-5. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA