Rain or Shine averted a stunning collapse with a big fourth-quarter comeback to go 3-1 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the expense of slumping Magnolia.

But for coach Yeng Guiao, Wednesday’s 102-100 squeaker at Ninoy Aquino Stadium has a special feeling.

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“Dati wala kaming (before, we didn’t have a) finishing kick, ‘di namin masara yung laro (we usually can’t close out games),” Guiao said.

The Elasto Painters wasted a 13-point lead in the third quarter and fell behind by 12 in the fourth, but went on a 16-2 windup that put them in a tie with the Meralco Bolts for third place in the standings.

Andrei Caracut scored 10 of his 15 points in the payoff period, including the tying four-pointer to make it 100-all with less than four minutes to go. Adrian Nocum’s layup after he and Santi Santillan forced Paul Lee to turn the ball over led to the basket that proved to be the difference.

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No team scored in the final three minutes, which spelled doom for Magnolia in absorbing another stinging defeat for the usually contending squad.

“We had the game under control, but we lost our momentum,” Guiao lamented in Filipino. “But the good thing about this is that we made a great comeback. In the past, we would just fold, so I see this as a good sign that the character of the team has changed.”

Magnolia fell to 1-4 with its fourth straight setback not only after blowing its lead, but losing import Ricardo Ratliffe to six fouls and failing to score in the last six minutes to eventually lose a 100-88 lead.

“Magnolia came out in full force,” Guiao said of the Hotshots, who had Paul Lee back after missing several games with a rib injury. “They were struggling in their previous games but they’re a different team if they’re complete. We actually got lucky.”

Bolts exit EASL

Import Deon Thompson posted 18 points, 15 rebounds, three steals and three blocks in another solid showing for Rain or Shine even as Santillan led all local scorers with 17.

Ratliffie finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds with Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca adding 21 and 18, respectively.

Meanwhile, Meralco suffered a big blow in its quest to reach the Final Four of the East Asia Super League after losing a big lead in a 72-68 loss to South Korea’s Busan KCC Egis on the road. INQ

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