For the first time in a while, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters didn’t make it to the semis, faltering in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Cup even after securing the second seed and the win-once advantage it affords. Now, for the next PBA conference, the Elasto Painters are bringing in a veteran internationalist in Jaylen Johnson to get back to the level they were previously at—and maybe even to the Finals and beyond.
Jaylen Johnson, the Well-Traveled Big Man
The Michigan-born Jaylen Johnson had a decorated high school career at Ypsilanti High School and was a one-time attendee at the LeBron James Skills Academy. He then played for the Louisville Cardinals in US NCAA Division 1 basketball, where he averaged 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds over three seasons.
The 29-year-old Johnson went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft, signed a training camp deal with the Chicago Bulls, and was then waived prior to the start of the 2017–18 NBA season. He played in the G League with the Iowa Wolves in 2019 and averaged 8.7 points and 4.3 rebounds before getting his first taste of international hoops with Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Premier League. Johnson next returned to the G League before taking his act overseas for good in 2023.
Jaylen Johnson’s latest stop was Turkey, where he played with Yalovaspor Basketbol of the Basketbol Süper Ligi. He averaged 11.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 54% shooting from the field, but shot just 59% from the stripe.
Versatile and Plays Hard
It’s looking like Jaylen Johnson fits the Rain or Shine archetype of import for the Commissioner’s Cup: big, multifaceted, and hardworking. He’s even looking like a facsimile of former Elasto Painters Deon Thompson and Wayne Chism, who were both versatile, inside-out operators.
“I’m a very versatile player,” Johnson himself said in a short video posted on the Rain or Shine Facebook page. “I can put the ball on the floor, make plays. I can shoot the ball and score. Whatever the team needs. I rebound, I play hard…”
If Jaylen Johnson is all that, he’d surely be in coach Yeng Guiao’s good graces—while Rain or Shine might make it back to the final four.
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