The Magnolia Hotshots bucked the absence of Zavier Lucero to overcome the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 107-103, on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The win moved the Hotshots to the top seed in Group B heading into the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, where they will meet the TNT Tropang 5G. The loss moves Rain or Shine to 6-4, where a loss to the Phoenix Fuel Masters could push Yeng Guiao and his boys to No. 3.
What Happened?
Magnolia got a leg up on Rain or Shine in the opening frame, with Javi Gomez de Liaño and KJ Buffen firing 7 apiece in a 32-26 first quarter for the Hotshots. The Elasto Painters returned fire in the second with Felix Lemetti chipping in 9 points early, Aaron Fuller adding 8, and Adrian Nocum tallying 6 in a 35-21 effort. At the half, Rain or Shine went ahead, 61-53.
It was Magnolia’s turn to go off in the third, outscoring the Elasto Painters, 33-20, thanks to Gomez de Liaño’s three-point sniping, Ian Sangalang’s post play, and contributions from Jerom Lastimosa, Chris Koon, and even Peter Alfaro. The Hotshots’ high-powered third quarter gave them an 86-81 lead going into the final frame. The fourth quarter continued to be a back-and-forth affair, with Magnolia doing just enough to keep Rain or Shine at bay up until the final buzzer.
Who Stood Out?
Gomez de Liaño, in a slump for a long time, went off in this one, scoring a conference-high 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting from distance. Alfaro, Lastimosa, and Yukien Andrada also played starring roles off the bench, with Alfaro adding 17 points, Lastimosa tallying 16 points and 4 dimes, and Andrada chipping in 11 with 4 boards.
Rain or Shine, who played without Caelan Tiongson (shoulder) and Christian Manaytay (flu), got a solid game from Adrian Nocum, who finished with 25 points and 6 boards off the bench. Felix Lemetti had 11 on three triples, while Aaron Fuller was the lone starter in double digits with 18 markers.
3 Keys to the Game
- Strong third. Rain or Shine came into the second half with momentum and an eight-point lead after outscoring Magnolia, 35-21, in the second quarter. But the Hotshots turned things around with a strong 33-20 effort in the third canto to retake the lead, 86-81, going into the final frame. That turnaround proved enough as Magnolia fended off Rain or Shine the rest of the way.
- Points off turnovers. The turnover battle was actually close, with Rain or Shine committing 12 and Magnolia finishing with 10. However, the Hotshots made the most of the Elasto Painters’ miscues, converting them into 15 points as compared to Rain or Shine’s 1 point.
- Bench play. The teams’ benches both played well, and they weren’t far apart in scoring, with Magnolia’s winning it slightly, 64-61. However, the Hotshots’ second stringers were more impactful overall, with Lastimosa orchestrating, Alfaro setting the tone on defense and making shots, and Sangalang holding the fort inside on both ends.
Next Up for the PBA
Friday, October 23, 2026 | Ynares Center Antipolo
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (5:15 p.m.)
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs. Blackwater Bossing (7:30 p.m.)
