Rain or Shine’s Caelan Tiongson against Meralco in PBA50 Philippine Cup. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — The Rain or Shine ElastoPainters showed resilience and guts, losing control of the game then fighting back to repel the Meralco Bolts, 96-95, in overtime in the PBA50 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo Saturday.
ROS forged the extra period on a 10-1 run capped by a tip-in by Gabe Norwood, then the Elasto Painters lived on in OT, coming through with a triumphant season debut while sending the Bolts to a 0-2 start.
It's a stirring come-from-behind win for coach Yeng Guiao's wards marked by a surprise four-point bomb from Caelan Tiongson that propelled ROS back into the fight at 88-89 with time down to 17 seconds.
Then a split from line from Chris Newsome in the last 13 seconds kept the door open for the E-Painters.
Adrian Nocum misfired two jump shots but Gabe Norwood was at the right place at the right time in Nocum's second missed shot. Norwood tipped it in, forcing OT at 90-all.
In overtime, Mike Malonzo and Andrei Caracut started action with back-to-back baskets, and there's no stopping the E-Painters from salvaging their rollercoaster ride.
Tiongson started his sophomore season with a double-double outing with 23 points and 10 rebounds as Norwood, Keith Datu, Adrian Nocum and Caracut chipped in at least 10 points each.
ROS recruit Stanley Pringle sat out the game.
Bong Quinto and CJ Cansino fired 18 points apiece while Chris Newsome and Raymond Almazan tossed in 12 points each for the Bolts.
It could've been a won ball game for the Bolts if not for their woeful 18-of-30 free throws.
Going down the drain was Meralco's 37-20 tear in the third quarter that sent them ahead, 81-70, going into the final period.
At halftime, ROS sat on a 50-44 cushion.
The Scores (OT):
Rain or Shine 96 – Tiongson 23, Datu 11, Norwood 11, Caracut 10, Nocum 10, Lemetti 9, Asistio 6, Mamuyac 5, Ildefonso 5, Malonzo 4, Clarito 2, Porter 0, Belga 0.
Meralco 95 – Quinto 18, Cansino 18, Almazan 12, Newsome 12, Banchero 9, Bates 8, Black 6, Caram 5, Hodge 5, Maliksi 2, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 24-28, 50-44, 70-81, 90-90, 96-95.