Rain or Shine stages late comeback to take Game 1 over Magnolia
Top-seed Rain or Shine Elasto Painters pulled off a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 109-105, in Game 1 of their best-of-five PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals series on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Facing a 100-91 deficit with just over six minutes remaining, the Elasto Painters staged a furious rally, outscoring the Hotshots 18-5 down the stretch to steal the win. Jhonard Clarito‘s clutch free throws with 3.9 seconds left sealed the game, while Paul Lee’s last-second four-point attempt for Magnolia missed at the buzzer.
Rain or Shine, known for its grit, was led by import Aaron Fuller‘s dominant performance. Fuller registered another 20-20 game, finishing with 24 points and 20 rebounds. Clarito, instrumental in the comeback, added 20 points, including the game-securing free throws. Andrei Caracut, who contributed 14 points, and rookie Caelan Tiongson, who drained a pivotal three-pointer, helped turn the tide late in the game.
Magnolia started strong in the final quarter, with Jerrick Ahanmisi and Aris Dionisio leading a barrage from beyond the arc, propelling them to a 10-point lead. However, the Hotshots struggled to maintain their advantage, failing to score in critical moments as Rain or Shine tightened its defense.
WATCH: Magnolia vs. Rain or Shine (September 25) Game 1 Highlights
Rayvonte Rice, Magnolia’s replacement import for Shabazz Muhammad, struggled with efficiency, managing just 16 points on 6-of-20 shooting. Zav Lucero and Paul Lee chipped in 15 points each, with Lucero knocking down a crucial three-pointer to cut the lead to 106-105. However, missed opportunities from Mark Barroca and a mishandled pass from Lee in the final moments proved costly.
Rain or Shine now holds a 1-0 lead in the series, with Game 2 set for Friday at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna. Magnolia will need to regroup quickly if they hope to even the series and avoid falling into a 2-0 hole.
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