MANILA — Rain or Shine sure knows how to beat TNT.
The seventh-seeded Elasto Painters stunned the second-seeded KaTropa, 106-102, in the quarterfinals of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday night.
Rain or Shine limited TNT to only 19 points in the second quarter, and opened an 84-75 lead entering the fourth.
The KaTropa still tried to put up a fight late in the final chapter, drawing to within three points, 102-105, with 30 seconds left.
But Gabe Norwood sealed the win with a free throw, with 18 seconds left as the KaTropa could not buy a basket in the end.
J’Nathan Bullock made seven triples en route to a 31-point performance with 15 rebounds, three assists, and one block for Rain or Shine, which canceled TNT’s twice-to-beat advantage and forced one more showdown on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Norwood also found himself hot from 22 feet out, dropping four treys of his own for 15 points with nine caroms, six dimes, two steals, and one block.
Kelly Williams had a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds with two assists and a steal for TNT.
Glen Rice Jr. struggled from the three-point arc, only making one of 12 from that distance and only came up with 19 markers.
Box Scores:
Rain or Shine 106: Bullock 31, Norwood 15, Almazan 13, Ahanmisi 10, Trollano 10, Tiu 10, Cruz 8, Belga 5, Borboran 2, Daquioag 2, Ponferada 0
TNT 102: Williams 23, Castro 22, Rice 19, Semerad 19, Rosario 10, Pogoy 7, Seigle 2, Reyes 0, Tautuaa 0
Quarterscores: 26-28, 52-47, 84-75, 106-102.