Elasto Painters stun Tropang 5G in fight-marred game

Action turned dramatic Friday night as Rain or Shine leaned on Adrian Nocum’s late-game heroics to edge TNT, 112-110, in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Nocum rose to the occasion in the dying seconds, finishing with 20 points and 11 rebounds, capped by a crucial semi-hook over the towering Bol Bol that pushed Rain or Shine ahead for good. TNT had one last chance, but Bol’s potential game-winning triple fell short at the buzzer.

The Elasto Painters still had to navigate tense moments in the closing sequence. Felix Lemetti was fouled on the rebound but missed both free throws—intentionally bricking the second—to run down the remaining time and secure Rain or Shine’s second straight victory.

The win proved even more impressive as Rain or Shine battled through adversity, playing the final 6:20 without import Jaylen Johnson, who was ejected along with TNT’s Glenn Khobuntin after a heated altercation.

Head coach Yeng Guiao acknowledged the chaotic stretch but lauded his team’s resilience.

“Medyo unfortunate ‘yung nangyari. I think the referees just lost control of the game that time. They were allowing too much contact,” Guiao said. “But when it happened I knew parang imposible nang manalo… There’s really no way or matchup you can do against Bol Bol… So incredible toughness that the team showed.”

Despite the loss, Bol impressed in his conference debut, erupting for 38 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks. The 7-foot-3 big man battled through foul trouble and physical play, even absorbing an inadvertent elbow late from Luis Villegas that left him bloodied.

TNT also drew solid contributions from Calvin Oftana and returning veteran Jayson Castro, but their efforts ultimately fell short.

Rain or Shine, meanwhile, leaned on a balanced attack. Johnson still finished with 33 points, nine rebounds, and three steals before his ejection, while Lemetti and Villegas chipped in 13 points apiece. Gian Mamuyac added nine points and seven rebounds, and Jhonard Clarito controlled the glass with 11 boards.

The Elasto Painters had to overcome a sluggish start after TNT surged to an early 47-29 lead. The Tropang 5G threatened late as Oftana’s four-pointer trimmed the gap to one, 110-109, with 30 seconds remaining.

But Nocum, undeterred despite earlier rejections from Bol, delivered when it mattered most.

“Sinusubukan ko talagang i-challenge siya kaya lang sobrang laki, ilang beses akong nabutata,” Nocum said. “’Yung last tinaasan ko na lang tira ko, e.”