The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and TNT Tropang 5G renewed their PBA rivalry on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and lived up to it. In the end, the Elasto Painters pulled out a thrilling 112-109 victory in a highly physical matchup that also featured an actual fight.
What Happened?
TNT, powered by 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks from Bol Bol, raced out to a fast start, building a 34-25 lead after 12 minutes. Rain or Shine responded with a strong second quarter, outscoring the Tropa, 29-24, to cut the deficit to 58-54 going into intermission.
The Elasto Painters continued their electric play in the third, again outscoring TNT, 26-22, to tie the game at 80 going into the final frame. It was still tied at 89 at the midway mark of the fourth when Rain or Shine went on a 7-0 burst to create some separation, 96-89. That run was marked by a fight between Glenn Khobuntin and Jaylen Johnson, who got entangled under the basket and swung at each other before cooler heads prevailed.
TNT last threatened at 110-109 after a Calvin Oftana four-pointer, only for Adrian Nocum to counter with a looping skyhook over Bol.
Who Stood Out?
Adrian Nocum was simply sensational for Rain or Shine, delivering 20 big points on top of 11 rebounds and 3 assists. He also made crucial baskets down the stretch, including a short stab off an offensive rebound and that looper over Bol. Johnson, before he was ejected, was also playing superbly, putting up 33 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals as he held his own against his heralded counterpart. Felix Lemetti and Luis Villegas added 13 off the bench.
On TNT’s side, Bol was as good as advertised, dropping 38 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks in his debut, although his shot selection was questionable at best. Calvin Oftana provided additional firepower with a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double.
3 Keys to the Game
- Turnovers. Rain or Shine trailed in a lot of different departments but won the turnover battle, forcing TNT into 14 errors while committing only 6. This resulted in a 20-4 advantage in points off turnovers for the Elasto Painters.
- Three-point shooting. In a battle of two teams that rely heavily on downtown sniping, it was Rain or Shine that saw its shots go in more. The Elasto Painters doubled up TNT in three-point shooting, making 12 of their 40 attempts as opposed to the Tropa sinking 6 of their 23 tries.
- Composure. Rain or Shine was in the lead, 96-91, when Khobuntin and Johnson got into an altercation. With their import ejected alongside Khobuntin, the Elasto Painters could’ve folded. But they didn’t. Instead, they kept their composure and held off the Tropang 5G even without an import to finish the game.
Next Up for the PBA
Saturday, March 21, 2026 | Ynares Center Antipolo
San Miguel Beermen vs. Titan Ultra Giant Risers (5:00 p.m.)
Phoenix Fuel Masters vs. Meralco Bolts (7:30 p.m.)
