With Rain or Shine holding on to a slim lead in the dying seconds, Gian Mamuyac fouled Calvin Oftana — a decision that later backfired on him and his team.
Gian Mamuyac made the foul that proved to be the difference in Rain or Shine’s 105-113 overtime loss to TNT in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals Friday, June 28.
As time wound down in regulation and with the Elasto Painters still having a foul to give, Mamuyac hacked Tropang 5G ace Calvin Oftana to allow RoS' defense to set up.
At that point, Rain or Shine was clinging to a precarious 99-96 lead with just 7.7 ticks remaining.
Mamuyac's decision, as it turned out, backfired.
[RELATED STORY: Calvin Oftana holds fort for RR Pogoy in TNT's PBA semis Game 2 win: 'Ako na bahala, migo']
Oftana was in the act of shooting and was awarded three free throws which he all converted to force the extension.
Then it was all Tropang 5G from there.
“I was just trying to be smart, but it backfired. May fouls to give kasi kami. Na-foul sana when he gathered, naka-set sana 'yong defense. More chances na maka-stop kami,” said Mamuyac after the match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate.
Gian Mamuyac finishes with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block in Game 2. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Mamuyac knew the TNT veteran winger outsmarted him in that play.
The league admitted the next day that Oftana should have been given four free throw shots as he was actually fouled in the four-point area.
“Ang galing din ni Calvin, na-timingan niya. Alam kasi niya, eh,” said Mamuyac.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: TNT gunner RR Pogoy sustains hamstring injury in semis Game 2 win vs Rain or Shine]
The Elasto Painters are now down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series against an inspired TNT side that is chasing a Grand Slam.
But Mamuyac has no other recourse now but to recover, regroup,and get ready for Game 3 on Sunday, June 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“[I have to] bounce back and learn from it kasi medyo costly yung nangyari,” he said.
“Hindi pa naman kami out sa series. It's a first to four. Recover lang [today] and, hopefully, we can get our first win on Sunday.