Johnson Leads Rain or Shine Comeback, Shocks Ginebra in Game 1

Rain or Shine showed grit when it mattered most, rallying from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to stun Barangay Ginebra, 115-111, in Game 1 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals Wednesday at the Ynares Center.

The Elasto Painters leaned on a collective late-game surge after trailing 84-74 early in the fourth quarter, unleashing a decisive 13-2 run to seize control and grab the series’ early edge.

Adrian Nocum sparked the go-ahead points after drawing a foul from Justin Brownlee and calmly sinking two free throws to put Rain or Shine ahead, 108-107, with 1:56 left. Jhonard Clarito and Gian Mamuyac then added crucial baskets to extend the lead to six points.

Ginebra, however, refused to fold. Scottie Thompson hit a deep four-pointer from the right wing to cut the deficit to 113-111 with 19.8 seconds remaining, but Clarito answered with two clutch free throws to restore breathing room. Rain or Shine then held firm defensively on the final possession, denying RJ Abarrientos a clean look from beyond the arc as time expired.

The win marked Rain or Shine’s first semifinal opener victory since the 2019 Philippine Cup.

“To play a team like Ginebra — GOAT import, GOAT coach, half of Gilas, the probable Best Player of the Conference — parang, sino ba kami,” said Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. “Lumaban lang tayo. Tingnan natin hanggang saan tayo. At least, nailusot natin Game One.”

Import Jaylen Johnson delivered a career night, exploding for 40 points and 19 rebounds while matching Brownlee stride for stride. Johnson shot 15-of-28 from the field, including an efficient 8-of-15 from three-point range, and also drained a critical four-pointer to ignite the late turnaround.

Clarito added 25 points and six rebounds, bouncing back from struggles against Ginebra in the eliminations, while Mamuyac contributed 18 points and five assists, including a clutch block on Abarrientos followed by a basket to push the lead to 113-107 with under a minute remaining. Nocum finished with 16 points, and rookie Mike Malonzo added 12 off the bench.

Rain or Shine also overcame adversity, losing key big men Caelan Tiongson and Luis Villegas to illness and injury during the game. “I have to commend the players. We lost Caelan today — masama ang tiyan niya — and Luis in the fourth, but we kept fighting,” Guiao said.

For Ginebra, Brownlee led with 32 points, but the Kings squandered a comfortable fourth-quarter cushion. Abarrientos scored 21 points on 20 attempts, including 14 from deep, while Thompson added 17 points and seven rebounds despite a hard hit to the forehead in the closing minute.

A crowd of 10,412 fans witnessed the thrilling contest, the third-largest attendance ever at the venue, according to league statistician Fidel Mangonon III.

“This is a really good game for the fans. They enjoy watching Rain or Shine play, win or lose. I just want them to have fun,” said Guiao.

Game 2 is set for Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.