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Rookie Felix Lemetti came through in the crunch on Saturday night, helping Rain or Shine past Barangay Ginebra, 73-64, at Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur. The ElastoPainters, behind their eighth overall pick in the Rookie Draft, went on a roll inside the final four minutes of the road game, and kept their fancied foes scoreless until the final horn to capture a second-straight victory in Group B of the Governors’ Cup. Import Aaron Fuller had 16 points and 23 rebounds that went with three assists to earn Player of the Game honors, but there was no denying that Lemetti, a Swedish standout born to a Filipino mom, was the biggest star of the win over the Gin Kings, who was coming off a massive facelift during the off-season. Lemetti had delivered 13 points, most of his baskets coming from a cutthroat effort that began with the three freebies that brought Rain or Shine up, 64-64, with 3:53 on the clock. The crafty guard then hit a dagger triple over returning Ginebra import Justin Brownlee to put the game beyond doubt with a little over a minute left in the contest. Andrei Caracut had 14 points, Gian Mamuyac nine as Rain or Shine turned in a victory that spoke volumes for independent teams. Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao was the biggest dissenting voice of the the trades that allowed Barangay Ginebra to land Rookie of the Year Stephen Holt, now-healthy Isaac Go and the No. 3 pick of the draft, which turned out to be RJ Abarrientos, ahead of the new season.
He really stepped up when it mattered most, delivering crucial points and making key plays that secured the win for Rain or Shine. His clutch triple and overall impact in the final minutes highlight his potential and ability to perform under pressure.
