Strong Fourth Quarter Lifts Elasto Painters Past Hot-Shooting Bossing
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters dug deep in the fourth quarter and delivered a decisive 18–4 closing run to overcome a red-hot Blackwater squad, sealing a 120–106 victory in the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Early Struggles Against Blackwater’s Blazing Offense
The Elasto Painters had to weather a scorching first half from Blackwater, which saw the Bossing dominate offensively. Blackwater lit up the scoreboard in the second quarter, shooting 60% from the field (15-of-25), including four triples. Rain or Shine struggled to match that pace, going just 8-of-20 from the floor in the same period.
Blackwater even built leads as large as 64–55 and 68–60 at halftime, thanks to explosive scoring from Christian David, who finished with 28 points, and Sedrick Barefield, who added 23. David even hit a remarkable shot from beyond half-court to close the opening quarter, cutting the deficit to 33–37.
Rain or Shine’s Patience Pays Off
Despite Blackwater’s early barrage, Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao stayed calm on the sidelines.
“’Yung shooting nila masyadong maganda… they were even making their 4s,” Guiao said. “Sabi ko lang, we were playing the pace that we wanted. Maybe in the fourth quarter we will get a break.”
That break finally came. Rain or Shine locked in defensively during the final period, limiting Blackwater’s options while finding their rhythm on offense. The Elasto Painters clamped down at the right time, flipping the momentum in their favor when it mattered most.
Stars of the Game: Nocum, Santillan, and Birthday Boy Tiongson
Adrian Nocum spearheaded the late-game surge, scoring six of his 23 points during the decisive final run. He got ample support from Santi Santillan and Caelan Tiongson, who made a successful return from a two-game absence due to back spasms—coincidentally on his 33rd birthday.
Tiongson tallied 14 points, while Santillan also made timely contributions in the paint. Versatile forward Keith Datu was instrumental in keeping Rain or Shine competitive in the first half, scoring 20 of his game-high 27 points before halftime.
The team also got meaningful contributions from Gian Mamuyac, Andrei Caracut, and Jhonard Clarito, each of whom chipped in double-digit scoring.
Supporting Cast Steps Up for Blackwater
Despite the loss, Blackwater had its bright spots. Aside from David and Barefield, RK Ilagan added 16 points and Mike Ayonayon had nine. The Bossing made an impressive 15 three-pointers and even sank three rare four-point plays, a testament to their fearless shooting.
But in the end, their touch cooled off just as Rain or Shine intensified its attack, focusing on high-percentage drives instead of jump shots—a tactical shift that paid off handsomely.
Bounce-Back Win for Rain or Shine
The win helped Rain or Shine recover from a tough 97–107 loss to Converge in their previous outing, lifting their record to 3–2 in the conference.
“It’s a testimony to the patience of the guys and not folding up despite the torrid shooting of Blackwater,” said Coach Guiao, commending his players for their poise and resilience.
The Scores :
RAIN OR SHINE 120 – Datu 27, Nocum 23, Tiongson 14, Caracut 11, Mamuyac 11, Clarito 10, Santillan 9, Lemetti 8, Norwood 3, Asistio 3, Belga 0.
BLACKWATER 106 – David 28, Barefield 23, Ilagan 16, Ayonayon 9, Casio 8, Guinto 6, Andrade 5, Escoto 5, Mallilin 4, Chua 2, Tratter 0.
QUARTERS: 37-33, 60-68, 91-91, 120-106