Rain or Shine Elastopainters’ Adrian Nocum and Jhonard Clarito during a PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals game against NLEX Road Warriors. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Rain or Shine refused to wilt under NLEX’s big fightback and came away with a 92-89 victory that forced their PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal showdown to a rubber match on Wednesday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Hardworking Jhonard Clarito played huge in the fourth quarter and produced 20 points and 21 rebounds in a performance that carried the Elasto Painters past the twice-to-beat Road Warriors.
READ: PBA: Jhonard Clarito continues to prove worth for Rain or Shine
Last season’s Most Improved Player had 14 points and 13 rebounds in the fourth as Rain or Shine bounced back after wasting a 16-point second quarter deficit and trailing by eight early in the same period.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium for the right to face either Magnolia or TNT in a best-of-seven semifinal affair.
NLEX had a chance to steal the game twice, but Robert Bolick missed a go-ahead layup with Rain or Shine up 91-90 while missing a desperate four-pointer before the horn sounded.
Bolick finished with 15 points, albeit in a 5-of-20 shooting for the Road Warriors.
Xyrus Torres finished with 20 points for the Road Warriors after being responsible for the third quarter resurgence that eventually led to them taking the lead, and appearing to be on the verge of moving on.
Adrian Nocum also scored 20 for the Elasto Painters while Santi Santillan added 16 points and seven boards.
