Gian Mamuyac slithers through the TNT defense for a layup. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ

After reducing its deficit to 2-1 in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals with a convincing 107-86 win on Sunday, Rain or Shine would like to turn a different chapter this time against familiar foe TNT.

And coach Yeng Guiao believes that by preventing the Tropang 5G from repeating the outcome of their two previous Final Four encounters, they can have a stronger chance at being lucky the third time around.

“Our chance is to make this series long, or else we’ll lose,” Guiao said after the lopsided affair at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rain or Shine repeated the similar scenarios of the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup semis when it won Game 3 on both occasions after TNT took the first two.

But TNT would go on to take Games 4 and 5 to win the semis series both times, eventually putting itself in position for a Grand Slam after claiming the championship of the season’s first two conferences.

Game 4 is set on Wednesday at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City where Rain or Shine hopes to even the series by keeping TNT’s main men in check while also avoiding a similar collapse like in Game 2, where it squandered an 18-point lead in the first half before allowing Calvin Oftana to tie the count late in regulation with three foul shots.

“Their win in Games 1 and 2 was because of the brilliance and outstanding play of [RR] Pogoy in the first game, and Calvin in the second game,” said Guiao. “If we can solve these, there’s a big chance for us to come back in the series.”

Guiao also noted the need to crash the boards and play defense to get back on level terms with TNT, which endured another shortage in manpower when Pogoy sat out the match due to a groin injury.

Big difference

Oftana topscored for the Tropang 5G with 16, but it was not as impactful as the 39 he had in Game 2 that completed the comeback win.

Rain or Shine got a huge lift from guard Anton Asistio as he led the charge with 24 points spiked by four triples and two four-pointers. His quadruple before the buzzer using the bank gave the Elasto Painters an 84-57 lead at the end of the third.

“I just needed to step up because playing in the eliminations is different from playing in the quarterfinals and semifinals. The farther you go, the farther you have to elevate your game,” said Asistio.

Caelan Tiongson had 16 points and four rebounds, Keith Datu showed his important presence with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Adrian Nocum scored eight of his 10 in the first quarter when Rain or Shine led in a big way.

San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra were playing the other semifinal series at press time, with the winner going up 2-1.

The Beermen equaled the semis with a 100-83 rout of the Gin Kings two nights earlier at Ninoy Aquino Stadium despite June Mar Fajardo’s calf injury.

Fajardo once again came off the bench and was inserted by coach Leo Austria halfway in the first quarter in place of Mo Tautuaa, who in Game 2 was integral for San Miguel with 10 points and 10 rebounds. INQ

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