MANILA, Philippines – The Rain or Shine family now includes Felix Lemetti and Francis Escandor.

Out of this year’s freshman class, the two rookies were the first to be signed by the team on Friday to separate deals, making them the early draft picks.

Lemetti, a 25-year-old guard from Sweden who was selected eighth overall, signed a three-year deal, while Escandor, the team’s second-round selection at number 13, signed a one-year deal.

In person, Coach Yeng Guiao welcomed the two newcomers, expecting them to immediately contribute to the Elasto Painters’ PBA Season 49 campaign.

Along with Jireh Ibanes, the team manager of Rain or Shine, and representatives of the two players—Marvin Espiritu for Escandor and Reynaldo Punongbayan and Ed Ponceja for Lemetti—were also present.

Rain or Shine was able to choose two players in the first round: Fil-Am Caelan Tiongson, who was selected at number seven, and Lemetti, who was one of the draft’s early shocks.

However, Tiongson is still competing in the ongoing Jones Cup in Taipei for Strong Group Athletics.

Mike Malonzo (number sixteen) and Miggy Corteza (number twenty) were the two additional selections the Elasto Painters had in the second round.

However, in Season 51, Corteza was moved by the squad to Blackwater in return for a second-round selection.

In the third round, Darwish Bederi was the other Rain or Shine selection.

Insights on Lametti

Felix Lametti is a 25-year-old Swedish basketball player who played for Fairfield University in the United States. He stands at 185 cm (6’1″). He represented Sweden in the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship. Lametti shot 21.4% from three-point range and 37.5% from the field to average 9.3 points per game over the course of eight games. Against Estonia, he had his finest game, scoring 22 points while making 53.8% of his field goals. Lametti showed her flexibility by making contributions to steals, assists, and rebounds during the competition. His numbers indicate a good guard with potential for more reliable shooting. Lametti’s overall performance indicates promise for progress in his basketball career at Fairfield University and potentially beyond, despite a few difficult games.

It’s not a spot-up shooter, Lametti. He can make his own shots as a PG.

Lemetti appears to be a combination guard capable of getting to the hoop or pulling up from three. When he played for Omaha in his sophomore year, he produced respectable numbers. If Jonnel or Dave had been available at selections 7 or 8, would ROS have still selected Lemetti? He’s still got a promising core, though. I hope Villegas has already started. With bigs like Tiongson, Villegas, and Datu; wings like Mamuyac, Clarito, and Santillan; and guards like Caracut, Nocum, and Lemetti, they are now a complete squad. The Malonzo choice is an additional comparable ideal pick. He has the air of a Coach Yeng type of guy—a terrific defensive player who goes unnoticed.

Insights on Francis Escandor

Francis Escandor is a teenage basketball player in his fifth year at De La Salle Zobel, a prestigious high school in the Philippines that is well-known for its robust athletic programs. He stands 6’3″ (1.91m) tall.

Escandor plays basketball competitively for De La Salle Zobel as a student-athlete. Given his height of 6’3″, he might be a guard or small forward, positions that frequently call for a blend of outside shooting and inside-the-area playmaking abilities.

Given his affiliation with a prestigious institution like De La Salle Zobel, Escandor could be prepared for chances to play collegiate basketball in the future, maybe in the nation’s premier university leagues like the UAAP or NCAA.