The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters blasted the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, 142-131, on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium ahead of the playoffs. The win is Rain or Shine’s ninth against three losses. The loss, on the other hand, is Titan Ultra’s tenth against two victories in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
What Happened?
Rain or Shine went back to its core identity early, running and gunning on its way to a 32-21 first-quarter lead. But the Giant Risers worked themselves back in the second behind five triples and a four-pointer. In all, Titan Ultra put up 43 points on the board to Rain or Shine’s 36 to enter halftime just down by four, 68-64.
The Elasto Painters returned the favor after halftime, with Jaylen Johnson and Christian Manaytay leading a 48-point Rain or Shine outburst in the third while also limiting Titan Ultra to 26. Up 116-90 heading into the final frame, the Elasto Painters just cruised to the victory.
Who Stood Out?
After a string of subpar outings, Jaylen Johnson finally looked like himself on Friday as he finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks. He also led Rain or Shine’s fiery third-quarter breakaway. Christian Manaytay shone bright for the Elasto Painters as well, coming off the bench to play arguably his best game yet as a pro with 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting, on top of 8 boards, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
On the other side, Bryan Sajonia starred for Titan Ultra, firing 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting to go along with 3 rebounds and 4 assists.
3 Keys to the Game
- Run and gun. Rain or Shine finally broke out running after being shackled in their previous games. Over 48 minutes, the Elasto Painters were running and gunning, ultimately finishing with 43 fastbreak points and plenty more on the secondary break. No wonder they recorded 42 dimes for the game.
- Interior scoring. Thanks mainly to the sheer number of fastbreak opportunities, Rain or Shine was able to get to the paint for easy baskets. All in all, the Elasto Painters finished with 74 interior points while holding down Titan Ultra to just 46 points in the paint.
- Starter play. Johnson and the rest of Rain or Shine’s starters staked the team to an early lead. They also spearheaded that third-quarter uprising to put the game away. In all, they outscored their Titan Ultra counterparts, 72-49.
Next Up for the PBA
Saturday, May 9, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Blackwater Bossing vs. Converge FiberXers (5:15 p.m.)
San Miguel Beermen vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (7:30 p.m.)
