The Rain or Shine Elastopainters overcame standout performances by DeQuan Jones and Robert Bolick to secure a hard-fought 123-114 overtime victory against the NLEX Road Warriors on Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Adrian Nocum delivered six crucial points in the final 1:38 of overtime, giving the Elastopainters a comfortable six-point cushion at 120-114. This win not only pushed Rain or Shine to a 6-2 record but also positioned them for a potential quarterfinal berth in Group B.
Anton Asistio led the charge for the Elastopainters with a team-high 25 points. The victory placed Rain or Shine in a tie for the Group B lead with the San Miguel Beermen, setting up a high-stakes showdown between the two teams on Thursday.
Head coach Yeng Guiao praised his squad for passing a major test against the experienced Road Warriors. “This was a test for us. Playing against a team with experience, we had to learn how to win close games,” Guiao remarked.
Aaron Fuller contributed 23 points for Rain or Shine, while Jhonard Clarito added 15, including a crucial layup in the final 19 seconds of regulation to tie the game at 119-all and force overtime.
Despite a massive 49-point performance from DeQuan Jones, the Road Warriors fell short. Jones’ jumper with 1:25 left in regulation tied the game at 112, but NLEX couldn’t hold off the Elastopainters in the extra period.
A key moment came when Fuller capitalized on Jones’ missed shot with 3:32 left in overtime, scoring a layup to give Rain or Shine a 114-112 lead, which they never relinquished.
