Game Saturday (Lamberto Macias Sports Center, Dumaguete City)
5 p.m. — San Miguel vs Alaska

Games Sunday (Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. — Coca-Cola vs Rain or Shine
6:30 p.m. — B-Meg Derby Ace vs Barako Bull Coffee

Guard Ryan Araña made a game-winnng follow-up shot at the buzzer as Rain or Shine remained in the hunt for the last outright quarterfinals slot with a come-from-behind 113-111 win against Air21 in the PBA Fiesta Cup Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 6-foot-2 Araña converted the basket off a missed jumper by import Rod Nealy.

The referees reviewed the tape, and TV replays clearly showed that the leather was no longer in the former La Salle guard’s hands when the final buzzer sounded.

The win improved the Elasto Painters’ record to 8-9, and more importantly, it gave them a chance to earn a playoff berth against the Barangay Ginebra Kings (9-9) for the last automatic quarters’ slot with another win tomorrow against the Coca-Cola Tigers (7-9).

Coke is playing Sta. Lucia Realty at presstime.

Nealy, the former Ginebra import who replaced Jai Lewis, exploded with a game-high 41 points, 16 of which came in a torrid fourth quarter comeback. He nailed four of Rain or Shine's nine 3-pointers. He also had 16 rebounds.

Sol Mercado contributed 19 points and Gabe Norwood had 15 markers. Araña added 13 points, including 11 in the final frame.

“They gave their best on defense. Until the end they didn’t give up,” Rain or Shine mentor Caloy Garcia said. “We played lazy in the first three quarters. We’re just happy that we stepped up at the right time.”

“Win or lose (to Coke on Sunday), we have to play hard. We have to pick up from our last game. It’s a tougher game against Coke. But we can’t start this way. We have to fix our intensity. I didn’t notice we were down by 28. I don’t think we have a problem with our import now,” Garcia added.

The Express built a 28-point lead, 86-58, following a triple by Ronjay Buenafe with 4:32 left in the third period.

Rain or Shine battled back as Nealy joined hands with Araña, Mercado and Norwood, whose two-handed reverse dunk put the Painters ahead, 99-98, with 5:55 left to play.

The scores:
First Game
RAIN OR SHINE 113 — Nealy 41, Mercado 19, Norwood 15, Araña 13, Chan 5, Reyes 5, Cruz 4, Laure 4, Tang 2, Ibanes 2, Telan 2, Hrabak 1, Salangsang 0.
AIR-21 111 — Hickerson 34, Buenafe 21, Ritualo 11, Kramer 10, Alvarez 8, Mamaril 8, Gonzales 7, Williams 4, Belga 4, Matias 2, Billones 2, Sharma 0, Arboleda 0.
Quarters: 24-34, 52-61, 78-95, 113-111.