Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao carefully drew up a play for Anton Asistio with the team trailing by three points in the dying seconds.
Asistio executed that and more as the Elasto Painters completed a 112-111 comeback against Titan Ultra in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo Sunday, Oct. 26.
Guiao, though, did not expect his prized ward to attempt a shot from the four-point area, where he was fouled by Joshua Munzon.
Asistio calmly headed to the charity stripe and nailed all of his four free throws for the win.
“We designed that play, but we did not anticipate that it was a four-point shot,” Guiao said of the final play.
[RELATED STORY: Rain or Shine battles from 19 down to overturn Titan Ultra in PBA PH Cup]
Titan Ultra near victory behind Calvin Abueva
Before that, the Giant Risers appeared to be on the way to a second victory, with Calvin Abueva pacing the squad with 31 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
Titan Ultra actually led by as many as 19 points, 66-85, in the third quarter, until Rain or Shine slowly chipped it away.
Still unstoppable in the fourth quarter, "The Beast" shot a quadruple and another basket against Gabe Norwood’s airtight defense to give the Giant Risers a seven-point breather, 109-102, with 1:35 left to play.
Titan Ultra still held on to a three-point edge, 108-111, as Munzon and rookie Kobe Monje split their attempts from the foul line with only 4.3 ticks remaining.
But Asistio needed just two seconds to bait Munzon on his way up for a shot from the four-point line.
“It was Anton, just with his natural intelligence siguro, to go for four. Na-anticipate na naming ang foul, kaya ang sinabi naming, when you feel you're about to be fouled, you put up a shot. That’s what happened,” said Guiao.
Asistio finished with 11 points, two rebounds and an assist in more than 14 minutes of play.
Adrian Nocum led RoS in scoring with 24 markers to go with eight boards, four dimes, three steals and a block.
But it was Santi Santillan who emerged as the Player of the Game with 21 points, including four triples in the fourth period that kept the Elasto Painters afloat.
Jhonard Clarito added 19 points as Rain or Shine joined TNT, Magnolia and Converge atop the heap with a 3-1 record.
Meanwhile, the Giant Risers skidded to a fourth straight loss against a solitary opening win.
Aljun Melecio backed Abueva with 21 points but did little in the homestretch.
Munzon produced a near triple-double of 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists plus two steals. Von Pessumal and Jerrick Balanza each scored 12.
Rain or Shine vs. Titan Ultra Scores:
Rain or Shine 112 – Nocum 24, Santillan 21, Clarito 19, Asistio 11, Norwood 10, Mamuyac 8, Lemetti 6, Belga 5, Malonzo 4, Ildefonso 2, Datu 2, Caracut 0
Titan Ultra 111 – Abueva 31, Melecio 21, Munzon 15, Balanza 12, Koon 12, Pessumal 12, Yu 3, Flores 2, Barasi 2, Ambohot 0, Ular 0, Monje 0
Quarterscores: 28-34, 57-64, 81-92, 112-111
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.