Elasto Painters target Top Four spot as they face streaking Fuel Masters

Rain or Shine aims to boost its push for a Top Four finish when it squares off with Phoenix in a matchup featuring two of the league’s rising squads in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup this Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Tip-off is scheduled at 7:30 p.m., with the Elasto Painters chasing their eighth win as they look to secure a place in the upper half of the Final Eight—an advantage that comes with a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals.

Head coach Yeng Guiao previously set a target of seven wins, a benchmark that has historically been enough to clinch a playoff berth in recent editions of the conference featuring guest teams.

That goal has already been achieved after a 124-117 win over Terrafirma last Wednesday, a game where Rain or Shine matched the league record for most three-pointers in a single contest with 23 makes.

While pleased with the victory, Guiao admitted concerns about his team’s defense, even as he praised their perimeter shooting.

“Happy with the win, but we can’t relax on defense,” he said. “We allowed 117 points—that’s not our standard. But when we hit 23 threes, we’re tough to beat.”

Oddsmakers list Rain or Shine as the favorite, projecting an 11.5-point margin in their favor, with the total points line set at 224.0.

Despite the odds, the Elasto Painters will be tested by a Phoenix side riding renewed momentum. The Fuel Masters snapped a two-game losing streak with a 125-108 victory over Blackwater last Friday in Montalban.

That win lifted Phoenix back above the .500 mark at 4-3, and coach Charles Tiu is hoping their timing works to their advantage against a red-hot Rain or Shine squad.

“I’m just hoping their loss comes soon,” Tiu said. “Hopefully, it’s against us.”

He emphasized that execution will be key for his team to stay competitive.

“If we play our game and stay together, I believe we can go up against anyone in this league,” he added.

The earlier game at 5:15 p.m. features Macau taking on Titan Ultra in a battle between two of the conference’s struggling teams.

The Giant Risers enter with a slightly better 2-5 record and some confidence after pushing TNT to the limit before falling 97-92, despite a dominant 50-point outing from Bol Bol.

They will look to carry that performance into their clash with a Titan Ultra squad still searching for its first win in the league.

The Black Knights remain winless at 0-7, most recently dropping a 106-97 decision to NLEX in Antipolo.

Interestingly, odds lean toward Titan Ultra, with the team favored by a slim 1.5-point margin, while the projected total for the game is set at 217.0.