The no. 2 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters run it back against the Meralco Bolts for a spot in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
Adrian Nocum and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters look to steady the ship and salvage their semifinal bid when they face the Meralco Bolts in a winner-take-all quarterfinal showdown in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
The matchup is set on Monday, 7:30 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After cruising into the playoffs as the no. 2 seed with a twice-to-beat advantage, Rain or Shine suddenly finds itself in a do-or-die situation following a 96–79 loss to Meralco last Dec. 27, a result that wiped out the team’s built-in cushion.
The Elasto Painters struggled to find offensive rhythm in that setback, with just two players finishing in double figures.
Nocum paced Rain or Shine with 17 points, while Gian Mamuyac added 16, but the rest of the roster failed to provide enough support to counter Meralco’s energy and execution.
Known for their depth, ball movement, and defensive grit, the Elasto Painters will need a more balanced showing to avoid an abrupt end to their campaign after a strong elimination round.
Coach Yeng Guiao’s squad now turns to its identity as a resilient, next-play team—one that has repeatedly thrived in pressure-packed moments.
With a semifinals date against TNT on the line, the Elasto Painters aim to prove that their earlier stumble was merely a blip—and that their title aspirations are very much alive.
—
[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of One Sports Digital with the help of AI and reviewed by editorial staff for accuracy.]