Elasto Painters Pull Away in Clutch to Defeat Hotshots

Rain or Shine showcased their composure in a high-stakes finish, overcoming Magnolia, 91-82, in a tense, playoff-like matchup in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Elasto Painters erased a four-point deficit early in the fourth quarter, relying on timely stops and a late offensive surge to claim their eighth win of the conference, inching closer to securing a crucial Top Four finish.

Gian Mamuyac was pivotal in the turnaround, making key defensive plays, including two consecutive steals off Mark Barroca, which directly led to fast-break points. His first steal resulted in a go-ahead layup, while the second set up Adrian Nocum for an easy finish, giving Rain or Shine a 73-70 lead midway through the final frame.

After a slow start, Nocum found his rhythm, hitting a three-pointer to stretch the lead. Jaylen Johnson and Jhonard Clarito also stepped up, pushing the lead to 80-73 as Rain or Shine fully seized control.

Johnson capped off the rally with a powerful one-handed dunk over Zavier Lucero, extending the lead to 87-80 with just over a minute remaining, pumping up both the Elasto Painters' bench and their supporters.

Johnson finished with a double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds, contributing both offensively and defensively. Mamuyac was outstanding, adding 25 points and contributing across multiple areas, including rebounds, assists, steals, and a block—his most complete performance of the conference. Clarito added 18 points and nine rebounds, providing steady support.

Head coach Yeng Guiao lauded his team’s resilience in securing the hard-fought win.

“We had to really work for this one. These are the kinds of games that test your character,” Guiao said. “It was a slow start for us, but we picked up the pace in the second half and found our rhythm.”

Tensions flared late in the game after Johnson’s dunk, when Magnolia team consultant Erick Arejola confronted the import. Guiao quickly intervened to defend his player, leading to a brief exchange that resulted in technical fouls for both benches, though the situation was quickly diffused.

Clint Chapman led Magnolia with 17 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out in the final stretch, while Zavier Lucero and Jerom Lastimosa each added 16 points in the loss, as the Hotshots dropped to a 4-5 record.

Rain or Shine now shifts focus to a crucial matchup with NLEX on Wednesday, a game that could have significant implications for the upper part of the standings as the elimination round nears its conclusion.