Coming off a loss for the first time in this PBA Commissioner’s Cup, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters showed resilience, overcoming a poor first half to beat the Magnolia Hotshots, 91-82, on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The win, led by guard Gian Mamuyac, extends Rain or Shine’s league-leading record to 8-1, while the loss drops Magnolia to 4-5.
What Happened?
Magnolia, with contributions from Zav Lucero, Jerom Lastimosa, and Clint Chapman, pounced early, winning the opening frame, 25-20. The Hotshots continued to assert control in the second canto, turning the game into a defensive battle, 18-16, to take a 41-38 lead into intermission.
Rain or Shine found rhythm after halftime, with Gian Mamuyac taking over by pushing the ball up and finding seams in Magnolia’s defense. With Mamuyac showing the way, the Elasto Painters took a 66-62 advantage to the final frame, only for the Hotshots to nudge ahead, 70-66, thanks to an 8-0 start to the fourth. Rain or Shine responded with a 10-0 burst to take the lead for good at 76-70.
Jaylen Johnson all but sealed the outcome with an in-your-face slam on Zavier Lucero when tempers flared as Magnolia team consultant Eric Arejola and Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao exchanged words after a timeout.
Who Stood Out?
Gian Mamuyac simply took over this game, finishing with 25 points, including 18 in the second half. He added 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block while being all over the court, powering Rain or Shine’s offense and leading its defense as well. Jaylen Johnson also was solid with 25 markers on top of 14 rebounds and 4 assists.
Magnolia, meanwhile, drew solid games from Zavier Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa, with the former putting up 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals. Lastimosa, on the other hand, had 16 markers to go along with 6 dimes.
3 Keys to the Game
- Gian Mamuyac. Mamuyac was sensational, and Rain or Shine probably wouldn’t have beaten Magnolia on Saturday without the former Ateneo Blue Eagle taking over. He had 11 points in that big third quarter when the Elasto Painters took the lead and had back-to-back steals in the fourth that stemmed the tide.
- Foul Trouble. Magnolia’s Clint Chapman played just 24 minutes as he sat out long stretches due to foul trouble. His prolonged stint on the bench in the third was particularly detrimental as the Hotshots fell behind. Put simply, when Chapman was on the floor, Magnolia was neck-and-neck with Rain or Shine; when he was riding the bench due to foul trouble, the Hotshots were at a distinct disadvantage.
- Pace. The Hotshots did a commendable job slowing the game down in the first half, but the Elasto Painters adjusted and still were able to speed things up from time to time, particularly in the third with Mamuyac charging full speed ahead. That allowed Rain or Shine to score 28 fastbreak points as opposed to just 3 for Magnolia.
Next Up for the PBA
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Converge FiberXers vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (5:15 p.m.)
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs. Titan Ultra Giant Risers (7:30 p.m.)
