Rain or Shine defeated TNT 103-98 on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, securing their first victory in their PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series.

After two close losses to a TNT team that lost Jayson Castro to a season-ending injury, the Elasto Painters won their first game of the best-of-seven series thanks to Adrian Nocum’s takeover in the fourth quarter.

After a rally led by Rondae Hollis and Jefferson in the third period in a game that also saw an on-court altercation between TNT teammates Poy Erram and Glenn Khobuntin, Rain or Shine’s lead reached a high of 13 points and was barely maintained.

Castro was sidelined for the season after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee late in the Tropang Giga’s triumph in Game 2, and TNT lost their first game since then.

Caelan Tiongson ended with 18 points and seven rebounds for Rain or Shine, while Deon Thompson finished with 19 and 15 rebounds.

However, when TNT took an 84-83 lead, Nocum came through for Rain or Shine in the last quarter, scoring eight points to help them weather the storm.

Rain or Shine took a 69-56 advantage in the third quarter. In this postseason series, Sunday’s game had the biggest margin of victory for any club.

“We are hoping we can push this series into a long series,” Yeng Guiao, coach of Rain or Shine, remarked. ‘’At least ngayon, naka 2-1 kami. That means, minimum of five games na ‘to. Gusto namin umabot ng seven games.”.

Nocum extended Rain or Shine’s narrow lead to 90-86 with a layup off a crossover motion against Roger Pogoy and over two defenders. Then, with 3:26 left, Nocum scored two free throws to put the team ahead 94-88.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finished with 34 points and 19 rebounds, but TNT was unable to make any of his two final-game four-point attempts. Calvin Oftana contributed 13 points for TNT, while Pogoy contributed 21.

The Scores

Rain or Shine 103 – Thompson 19, Tiongson 18, Nocum 16, Asistio 12, Mamuyac 9, Santillan 8, Norwood 7, Clarito 7, Datu 4, Caracut 3, Lemetti 0.

TNT 98 – Hollis-Jefferson 34, Pogoy 21, Oftana 13, Erram 10, Williams 8, Aurin 8, Nambatac 2, Khobuntin 2, Razon 0, Heruela 0.

Quarter scores: 21-21; 49-43; 75-73; 103-98