Rookie Lemetti stars late as Rain or Shine turns back Ginebra to stay unbeaten

MANILA, Philippines – No wonder Rain or Shine made Felix Lemetti the eighth pick in the PBA Draft.

The relatively unknown rookie took over in the fourth quarter as the Elasto Painters scored a 73-64 comeback win over Barangay Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur on Saturday, August 24.

Lemetti scattered 10 of his 13 points in the final frame, helping Rain or Shine overcome an eight-point deficit in the period and take an early lead in Group B with a 2-0 record.

Welcoming back resident import Justin Brownlee, the new-look Gin Kings mounted a lead that peaked at 61-53 but went scoreless in the final 4:10 minutes as the Elasto Painters turned the tides behind the fearless Lemetti.

Ginebra still led 64-62 after a Brownlee short stab before Lemetti scored 6 points in a blazing 11-0 rally that kept Rain or Shine unbeaten.

Fouled on a four-point shot, Lemetti — who also finished with 3 assists and 2 rebounds — knocked down three free throws to give his side a 65-64 edge then capped the run with a three-pointer with 1:10 minutes left.

Import Aaron Fuller topscored for the Elasto Painters with 16 points on top of 23 rebounds and 3 assists, while Andrei Caracut added 14 points.

Picked a spot ahead of Lemetti, Caelan Tiongson chimed in 5 points and 7 rebounds in the win.

Brownlee delivered 18 points and 10 rebounds in his first game back with the Gin Kings after he failed to see action last season following a three-month suspension brought by a positive doping test in the Asian Games.

A lot, though, has changed for Ginebra since Brownlee last played for the team as the beloved franchise shipped Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle to Terrafirma in a trade that saw it acquire Stephen Holt and Isaac Go.

Holt, the Rookie of the Year last season, put up 13 points and 9 rebounds in his Ginebra debut, while Japeth Aguilar led the way in the loss with 20 points and 9 rebounds.

RJ Abarrientos endured a rough PBA debut after being drafted third overall by the Gin Kings as he shot a dreadful 1-of-15 from the field and netted 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Go and Scottie Thompson also fired blanks with 2 points each after combining for a 2-of-24 clip from the field.

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, Norwood 0, Asistio 0, Borboran 0.

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

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

– Rappler.com