MANILA, Philippines — Yeng Guiao smiled at the fact that Rain or Shine won’t end up losing in another potential sweep at the hands of a solid opponent following his team’s pulsating 110-109 escape act against TNT in their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semis series on Sunday in Dasmarinas City Arena in Cavite.
Import Aaron Fuller sealed the victory with a completed three-point play off a Roger Pogoy foul, allowing the Elasto Painters to cart away the win.
“It’s a real tough game but I think we passed the test of character,” Guiao told sportswriters after the Game 3 win, marking the Elasto Painters’ breakthrough victory after dropping their first two games.
“We were able to hang in there with a strong team, (which had a) great import. We don’t want to lose by a sweep against, the way we experienced in the semi of last conference with San Miguel. At least, we can say whatever happens, this is a better conference for us.”
Held down to just 86 points in the first two games, Rain or Shine regain its confidence after lighting up the scoreboard behind its solid bench scoring and aggressive rebounding.
ROS held a massive 41-3 bench scoring advantage in Game 3, even as the team crashed the boards with impunity on the way to a 54-35 rebounding edge.
“We got ourselves back in the series and this gives us the confidence that we can beat TNT,” said Guiao.
“Their import played great. Poy (Erram) played great, but we played as a team more today. We spread out the responsibility and we got several guys helping out Aaron in scoring.”
Fuller produced his usual numbers after finishing with 26 points and 16 rebounds, but Leonard Santillan came through with his best game this conference after finishing with 20 points, highlighted by four triples, to go along with six rebounds.
The former La Salle forward had 11 points in a critical second quarter surge that saw Rain or Shine outscore TNT, 28-16.
Guiao said he was glad to see Santillan step up big time in a game the team can’t afford to lose.
“This is his best game,” said Guiao on the 6-foot-5 Santillan. “I was really hard on Santi the last two games. I was expecting a lot more from him. So it’s a good thing he responded. He hard an earful from me but you can see the character of this guy if he will give in or he will respond well. And he did respond well.”
ROS will swing back to action this Wednesday and will try to tie the series at 2-2 when the team faces TNT in Game 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
