Rain or Shine slips past retooled Brgy. Ginebra in Candon

Felix Lemetti delivered a series of pivotal plays during Rain or Shine’s decisive closing run to secure a 73-64 victory over Barangay Ginebra on Saturday in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup, held at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.

With just 1:07 remaining in the contest, Lemetti sank a vital three-pointer, marking the final field goal of the Elasto Painters’ impressive 20-3 surge to close the game. This triumph propelled them to a 2-0 record, positioning them at the top of Group B in the standings.

Aaron Fuller also made significant contributions, leading the team with a standout performance of 16 points and a remarkable 23 rebounds. His efforts were crucial as Rain or Shine overcame an eight-point deficit, trailing 61-53 with just eight minutes left on the clock.

Lemetti finished the game with 13 points, 10 of which he scored during that crucial late-game stretch. He drew a foul from Scottie Thompson while attempting a four-point play, converting three free throws to put Rain or Shine ahead 65-64.

The rookie, selected No. 8 in the draft, showcased his playmaking skills by assisting Jhonard Clarito on the subsequent offensive possession, keeping the momentum firmly in the Elasto Painters’ favor.

Despite an early eight-point lead—the biggest margin for the Gin Kings—Barangay Ginebra suffered a setback, marking their first loss of the conference and overshadowing the much-anticipated return of Justin Brownlee after a 16-month hiatus.

Japeth Aguilar led Ginebra with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Brownlee contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds. Scottie Thompson also made his presence felt, grabbing 15 boards for the Gin Kings.

Stephen Holt added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Gin Kings, but the performances of RJ Abarrientos and Isaac Go fell short, as they managed only two points each, with shooting struggles of 1-of-15 and 1-of-14 from the field, respectively, in their debut for the crowd darlings.

The scores:

Rain or Shine 73 – Fuller 16, Caracut 14, Lemetti 13, Mamuyac 9, Tiongson 5, Clarito 4, Belga 3, Ildefonso 3, Santillan 2, Nocum 2, Datu 2, Asistio 0, Norwood 0, Borboran 0.

Brgy. Ginebra 64 – J. Aguilar 20, Brownlee 18, Holt 13, Ahanmisi 5, Thompson 4, Go 2, Abarrientos 2, Cu 0.

Quarterscores: 19-16, 29-34, 51-52, 73-64.