Anton Asistio lifts RoS Past Titan Ultra with clutch free throws
When the game was on the line, Anton Asistio stepped up and delivered.
The sharpshooting guard calmly sank four crucial free throws in the dying seconds to power Rain or Shine Elasto Painters past Titan Ultra, 112-111, in a heart-stopping PBA Philippine Cup clash on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Down 108-111 with just over two seconds left, Asistio drew a foul from beyond the arc and coolly converted all his free throws to complete Rain or Shine’s dramatic comeback and secure their second straight win, improving to 3-1 in the standings.
Head coach Yeng Guiao lauded Asistio’s composure and quick thinking in executing the play perfectly under pressure.
“We designed that last play for Anton, but we did not really anticipate that it was going to be a four-point shot,” said Guiao. “We knew they were going to foul, so we told him—when you feel the foul coming, put up the shot. That’s exactly what he did.”
The clutch moment capped off a strong all-around team performance. Adrian Nocum led the E-Painters with 24 points before fouling out, while Santi Santillan poured in 21 points—including 13 in the fourth quarter—to spearhead the rally. Jhonard Clarito added 19 markers, eight of which came in the final frame.
Despite a big night from Calvin Abueva, who finished with 31 points and 18 rebounds, Titan Ultra fell short and dropped to 1-4. Aljun Melecio chipped in 21, while Joshua Munzon came close to a triple-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
Titan looked in full control after building an 85-66 lead in the third quarter behind a barrage of three-pointers, but Rain or Shine’s relentless fightback flipped the script.
“I’m really happy with the endgame, but for the first three quarters, I wasn’t that happy,” Guiao admitted. “The important thing is, we found ways to win.”
With momentum on their side and confidence growing, Rain or Shine continues to show the grit and chemistry that define a true contender in this year’s Philippine Cup.
