Elasto Painters clinch top spot with win over Bolts despite import absence

Rain or Shine showed that team chemistry can overcome the absence of an import, defeating Meralco 109-102 to take the provisional lead in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

With Jaylen Johnson sidelined due to a one-game suspension following his altercation with TNT's Glenn Khobuntin, the Elasto Painters continued to shine. Coach Yeng Guiao’s squad built a 17-point lead in the second quarter and held strong, fending off Meralco’s late-game surges to secure their third consecutive win.

The pivotal moment came late in the fourth quarter, when Luis Villegas, Felix Lemetti, and Jhonard Clarito led an 11-0 run, putting Rain or Shine up 106-94 with just under three minutes remaining, sealing the win.

“It’s all about mindset,” Guiao said of playing without an import. “We told the guys we’re not here to just go through the motions. We needed to have the intention to win. Our plan was to stay close and not let them build a lead we couldn’t overcome, and we did.”

Five Elasto Painters finished in double digits, with Lemetti leading the way with a season-high 23 points, mostly from the free-throw line, along with two rebounds and three assists.

Adrian Nocum added 17 points—including 13 in the second quarter—plus six rebounds, while Caelan Tiongson chipped in 16 points and five boards.

Clarito almost had a double-double, contributing 15 points and nine rebounds, and Christian Manaytay went a perfect 5-of-5 from the field to score 12 points. Rain or Shine's sharp shooting was evident early, as they hit six three-pointers in the first period and finished with 10 overall.

For Meralco, Chris Newsome kept the Bolts in the game with a team-high 29 points.

Import Marvin Jones, who scored 17 in the first half, was shut down in the second, finishing scoreless in the final two quarters. Despite 16 rebounds and three assists from Jones, Meralco couldn’t recover.

Jason Brickman contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Bong Quinto and CJ Cansino added 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Rain or Shine will look to extend their winning streak to four when they face Blackwater, led by Robert Upshaw, on Tuesday, March 31, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Meralco (2-1) will aim to bounce back against Titan Ultra and Joshua Munzon this Sunday at the Big Dome.