The top of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup standings now has two teams battling neck-and-neck. This after the NLEX Road Warriors rallied past the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 92-90, on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Last night’s result means Rain or Shine and NLEX are now tied at 8-2 to share the top spot in the conference ledger.
What Happened?
The game took on a familiar Rain or Shine refrain early, with the Elasto Painters doing just enough in the opening frame to build a 23-18 lead as NLEX struggled. Rain or Shine then outscored the Road Warriors, 26-19, to take a 49-37 lead to intermission.
Robert Bolick, though, turned up the heat in the third, pouring in 18 points to power NLEX to a 38-point third frame while limiting Rain or Shine to 29. The rally allowed the Road Warriors to inch to within 78-75 heading into the final canto and set up an exciting endgame. Both teams traded baskets in the final 12 minutes, with NLEX finally getting the lead back, 90-87, on a 4-pointer by Bolick off a won jump ball. Rain or Shine regained the lead on a Luis Villegas triple off an offensive rebound to set up a wild finish that saw Jhonard Clarito fouled on a fast break after a Bolick turnover.
Clarito missed his first free throw short, then missed his second long. Cady Lalanne grabbed the rebound and gave the ball to Bolick to do his thing. Matched up against a good defender in Gian Mamuyac, Bolick drove hard right, saw Clarito helping, and dished it off to an open JB Bahio. The sophomore forward calmly drilled the game-winner with 0.3 second left. It is the second game-winning shot NLEX has hit this PBA Commissioner’s Cup after Ljay Gonzales shot down the Meralco Bolts with a buzzer-beating triple.
Who Stood Out?
Bolick. The multiple-time All-Star was simply sensational, putting up monster numbers of 30 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals while controlling the game. He led that third-quarter comeback and then made all the right plays in the fourth. In short, the Road Warriors rode Bolick to victory.
While Rain or Shine was in the lead for most of the game, it wasn’t a typical outing for them in terms of being prolific. Jaylen Johnson led the way with 17 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, while Adrian Nocum had 15 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals. However, both went silent down the stretch.
3 Keys to the Game
- Bolick. Aside from firing 18 of his 30 in NLEX’s third-quarter comeback, Bolick also led the Road Warriors’ steely finish. He hit that huge 4-pointer to give NLEX back the lead in the dying seconds, then trusted his teammate and delivered the go-ahead dime.
- Defense. While NLEX has shown it can put points on the board, it went back to its defensive DNA in this one, limiting the league’s highest-scoring team to just 90 points. That defense was particularly superb in the fourth, where the Road Warriors held the Elasto Painters to a measly 12 points in a defensive battle.
- Poise. The Road Warriors proved steadier down the stretch of a cardiac finish, with Bolick keeping his composure under pressure and Bahio calmly sinking the game-winner.
Next Up for the PBA
Friday, May 1, 2026 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
TNT Tropang 5G vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (5:15 p.m.)
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs. Meralco Bolts (7:30 p.m.)
