.jpg) |
| In his final game in CDO, Gabe Norwood played a vintage game for now league-leading ROS. PBA Images |
QUEZON CITY--Rain or Shine clamped down on TNT in crunch time to steal a 91-89 win in the lone PBA Philippine Cup game on Saturday night at the Aquilino Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center in Cagayan De Oro.
After a Jordan Heading floater that upped their lead to three, 89-86, the Tropang 5G never got to score again in the last four minutes of the game as the Elasto Painters, who started the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run, finished the job with five unanswered points.
Andrei Caracut, who has been struggling all conference long, gave ROS the lead with a floater right at the last two-minute mark, but it also turned out to be the team's last field goal as the team found it hard to close out the game.
Adrian Nocum failed to capitalize on a Brandon Rosser flagrant foul that was slapped after a review of the initially missed call, as the high-flying guard missed what could have been two dagger free throws with 8.6 seconds to go.
Jhonard Clarito only split his charities after a Rey Nambatac foul, but the battle for the loose ball off Clarito's missed second free throw took much of the last 7.5 seconds that TNT failed to attempt a potential game-winner in time.
In what could be his final game in Cagayan De Oro before he calls it a career, Gabe Norwood turned back time and led the Elasto Painters with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
Gian Mamuyac added 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block as his team is now on top of the team standings at 6-2.
Caelan Tiongson made a triumphant return from his hamstring injury and put up seven points, eight rebounds, and two assists in almost 30 minutes of action.
Christian Manaytay had a quiet PBA debut with three points and four rebounds in 10 and a half minutes of action.
Stanley Pringle made only two points, one rebound, and one assist in his first game back from a minor knee injury.
Nambatac starred in his homecoming with 18 points, going 5-for-9 from long range, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal, but his efforts were spoiled as the Tropang 5G replaced the Elasto Painters in the five-way tie for second place at 5-2.
RR Pogoy also had 18 points with three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
.jpg&description=PBA: ROS shuts down TNT late to take top spot){kind=link}