Rain or Shine slips past Alaska in OT to force sudden death

MANILA, Philippines – In a grind-it-out semifinal series between two physical and highly resilient teams, breaks of the game make all the difference in the world.

Head coach Yeng Guiao said it himself, “We got the break of a lifetime with the slip of JVee Casio.”

Guiao was referring to JVee Casio slipping all by himself on a spot on the floor as he was attempting a solo breakaway lay-up in overtime of Thursday night’s Game 4 of the best-of-5 semifinal series between the Alaska Aces and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The unexpected slip knocked the game off course.

Tied at 121-all, a wide open lay-up by Casio would have put the Aces up by two points with 33.9 seconds left.

Instead, he badly slipped and after Casio (17 points on 4-of-9 three-point shooting) walked off the court, Beau Belga (21 points and 10 rebounds) converted on a basket on the other end with 12.7 seconds left to give Rain or Shine a 123-121 triumph to force a sudden death Game 5 in the 2014 PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors’ Cup.

Even as Casio trooped back into the contest for the dying seconds after Belga’s basket, his slip clearly became a factor, removing the lift in his potential game-winning corner triple and subsequent potential game-tying jumper after Alaska retained possession as time expired.

“I guess that we just have to win in different ways and this is one of the most difficult ways that you have to win,” Guiao said.

“We got lucky, we got lucky today.”

Casio’s slip wasn’t the only break that favored Rain or Shine’s cause in this game.

Alaska import Henry Walker was ejected from the game with 6:24 remaining after he incurred a flagrant foul penalty 2 owing to an elbow to the back of guard Paul Lee’s head.

“I felt that the import deserved an ejection long ago,” Guiao said of Walker, citing the incident in Game 2 where Walker shoved Belga.

“What he did a while ago was also serious, it could have caused serious injuries. I think he’s a menace to the league and he’s a big bully. He deserved what he got.”

Walker will be summoned before PBA Commissioner Chito Salud on Friday, June 27.

Losing their import and down 105-97 evidently inspired the Aces to storm back into the game and try to finish off the series.

Alaska rallied in the final two minutes as Casio and Cyrus Baguio (21 points) scored 5 straight points to put their team up 113-112 with 1:06 to play.

But Alaska’s euphoria was short-lived as Lee, who had 21 points on 5-of-9 shots from long range, drilled in a long trey to snatch back the advantage, 115-113, with 50.8 ticks left.

And then Casio showed up, going glass for the two points which forced overtime.

The Painters, who were down 2-1 in the series before this game, built a 19-point lead early in the second period, 43-24, before the Aces erased it and gave Rain or Shine a serious scare towards the end.

Rain or Shine barely escaped Alaska after both teams came out with hot hands and an angst they released on defense.

The Painters shot 14 triples while the Aces had 15 of their own. Both teams moved the ball well, with Rain or Shine getting the slight edge in assists, 25-21.

Import AZ Reid led all scorers with 32 points to go with 15 rebounds, 5 assists and two steals. Rookie Raymond Almazan and Jeff Chan chipped in 14 and 11 markers, respectively.

Meanwhile, Dondon Hontiveros’ hands were on fire as he shot 7 triples all game long for his 21 points. Calvin Abueva added added 19 while Sonny Thoss had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Game 5 will be played on Saturday, where the winner will advance to the finals.

Scores:

Rain or Shine (123) – Reid 32, Belga 21, Lee 21, Almazan 14, Chan 11, Arana 8, Norwood 7, Ibanes 3, Cruz 2, Tiu 2, Rodriguez 2.

Alaska (121) – Hontiveros 21, Baguio 21, Abueva 19, Casio 17, Walker 16, Thoss 11, Jazul 6, Manuel 6, Espinas 4, Dela Cruz 0.

Quarter scores: 38-24, 60-59, 96-91, 115-115, 123-121.

– Rappler.com