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Rain or Shine's Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti in action. PBA Images
MANILA — Rain or Shine stayed perfect in a three-game run despite Jaylen Johnson serving his one-game suspension on Friday.
This, as the all-Filipino Elasto Painters fended off Meralco, 109-102, in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
"We caught Meralco on a bad day," said coach Yeng Guiao in the postgame press conference.
Playing without Johnson, Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti led five Rain or Shine players in the double-digit scoring, nailing 23 points, two rebounds, and three assists to earn Best Player of the Game honors.
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Threatening the Elasto Painters lead, the Bolts made the ballgame a 95-94 after a Chris Banchero jumper. Thankfully for the RoS side, Luis Villegas was there to answer back, firing a triple, backed up by Pangilinan-Lemetti to make it a 100-94 cushion.
Lemetti continued his heroics by sinking a technical free throw and completing an and-one, expanding the lead to 10, 104-94. Jhonard Clarito made a basket at the 2:52 mark, and there was no returning for Meralco by then as Rain or Shine kept the lead for themselves until the buzzer rang, marking their third straight win.
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Adrian Nocum finished with 17 points and six rebounds, Caelan Tiongson had 16 points and five rebounds, Jhonard Clarito chipped in a near double-double of 15 markers and nine boards, while Christian Manaytay completed the supporting cast with a 12-point output built on a 5-of-5 field goal clip.
On the other hand, Chris Newsome's 29-point showing on 11-of-17 shooting went down the drain, while Meralco reinforcement Marvin Jones had a 17-16 statline to pace the losing side.
The Scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 109 – Lemetti 23, Nocum 17, Tiongson 16, Clarito 15, Manaytay 12, Mamuyac 8, Villegas 6, Malonzo 5, Santillan 4, Belga 3, David 0, Asistio 0, Caracut 0, Roque 0
MERALCO 102 – Newsome 29, Jones 17, Brickman 15, Quinto 14, Cansino 13, Banchero 6, Mocon 6, Hodge 2, Bates 0, Magbuhos 0, Black 0
QUARTERS: 29-23, 51-44, 78-76, 109-102
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