By REYNALD MAGALLON
Anton Asistio waxed hot from deep as Rain or Shine clobbered a shorthanded TNT, 107-86, to finally get on the board in Game 3 of their best-of-seven semifinals affair in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, June 29.
The Elasto Painters came out guns blazing and unloaded a 16-0 rally in the opening frame before Asistio shot the lights out from deep in the second half to finally pick up their first win in the series and cut the Tropang 5G lead, 2-1.
Rain or Shine established a big lead early behind the searing rally that turned a 10-14 deficit into a 10-30 advantage. TNT, despite missing the services of the high-scoring RR Pogoy, got its rhythm in the ensuing quarters only to be doused by the torrid shooting in the second half.
Asistio, who only had three points through the first two games of the series, exploded for 24 points, spiked by four triples and two fours, to go with his six assists.
Caelan Tiongson provided support with 16 points while Keith Datu stepped up with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Leonard Santillan supplied 12 points and eight rebounds while Adrian Nocum had 10 points and four steals.
Meanwhile,
RJ Abarrientos finished what Jamie Malonzo had started as Barangay Ginebra turned back San Miguel, 100-90, in Game 3 of their own best-of-seven series.
Abarrientos did a little bit of everything, firing 18 of his 24 points in the final frame while adding nine rebounds and eight assists to keep the Beermen at bay and help the Kings retake the series lead, 2-1.
The rookie actually only took over to what Malonzo had started in the third frame where he had eight of his 20 points to allow Ginebra dictate the tempo of the contest behind a 25-14 quarter scoring.
Japeth Aguilar added 18 points while Scottie Thompson had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Stephen Holt chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds as well.
