The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters have been perennial semifinalists in recent years, reaching the top four in five of the last six conferences. In the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, they went unbeaten in their first seven games, finished at 9‑3, and pushed eventual champions Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to six games before bowing out in the semis.
Now, in the Governors’ Cup, Rain or Shine continues to excel and looks ready to take another step forward.
Where Does Rain or Shine Stand at the Moment
Rain or Shine lost its first two games in the Governors’ Cup and had to trade key player Gian Mamuyac early due to a contract stalemate. At that point, it looked like the Elasto Painters were set to unravel. Instead, the team banded together and won their next four games, including a 110‑99 thrashing of Ginebra, a 98-97 squeaker over the Magnolia Hotshots, and a close 85-83 triumph versus the Meralco Bolts.
After a slow start, the Elasto Painters now find themselves in a familiar spot—on top of the standings. Yeng Guiao and company sit atop Group B with a 4‑2 record and a four‑game winning streak.
What to Watch Out for When Rain or Shine Returns
What’s notable this conference is that Rain or Shine is winning despite an uneven offense. At the halfway mark of the Governors’ Cup, they rank seventh in scoring at 103.3 points per game, sixth in overall shooting at 38.8%, twelfth in three‑point accuracy at 31.0%, and seventh in treys made at 8.8 per contest.
These aren’t typical Rain or Shine numbers, and the fact they’ve kept winning should encourage Guiao. It suggests the law of averages could kick in, with the team finding its rhythm from distance and potentially winning games with prolific scoring—something they did often in the last conference.
Locals to Keep an Eye On
Adrian Nocum has continued his rise to superstardom, making him an obvious player to watch. Before the break, Nocum averaged 17.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.3 steals, while showing playmaking skills he hadn’t previously displayed. With a Gilas Pilipinas stint under his belt, Nocum should only get better.
Fans can also look forward to the return of two dynamic guards—Stanley Pringle and Felix Lemetti. Pringle missed the entire Commissioner’s Cup and the first part of the Governors’ Cup, while Lemetti played only a few games last conference before being sidelined by a partially torn ACL.
Both are back in harness and even featured in Rain or Shine’s 96‑94 win over TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA On Tour. With their return, expect the Elasto Painters to speed up the game and become an even more potent offensive squad.
Outlook
With upcoming games against Ginebra, Magnolia, Blackwater Bossing, and Phoenix Fuel Masters, Rain or Shine has a good chance of going at least 2‑2 and securing one of the top two spots in Group B.
However, if the rest of the conference plays out like the first half, Rain or Shine’s reward for finishing No. 1 or No. 2 could be a quarterfinal clash with either the Converge FiberXers or TNT Tropang 5G. Either way, it will be a tough test for the Elasto Painters as they aim to finally break through to the next level.
