MANILA, Philippines – The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters defeated the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters 109-99 at the PhilSports Arena on Tuesday, May 28, in a match that highlighted their comeback in the current PBA Philippine Cup. The victory put Rain or Shine in a strong position to finish in the top four and raised their record to 5–3. Adrian Nocum, a sophomore guard, led the charge with a career-high 30 points, but the night belonged to him.

The Elasto Painters came into the match looking to recover from a difficult defeat to TNT, when Nocum had only scored eight points. The young guard was determined to make an impression, so he quickly established himself by attacking the hoop with vigor and establishing his rhythm from the outside. Nocum had a 10-of-20 shooting percentage at the end of the game, including 9 of 13 from the free-throw line. In more than 30 minutes of play, he also tallied five rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Rain or Shine showed control and urgency from the first beep. They used a high-tempo offensive plan and excellent ball movement to outscore Phoenix 30–25 in the first quarter. Nocum was already in double figures as the Elasto Painters increased their lead to 57–43 at the break. Particularly during transition, their relentless drives to the hoop and readiness to share the ball led to mismatches and easy looks.

Yeng Guiao, a seasoned head coach, commended his team’s execution and pace, pointing out that their ease in a fast-paced game determined the result. Rain or Shine confidently operated their offense, taking advantage of timely opportunities and generating fouls to keep Phoenix off balance. The team’s aggressive mentality is demonstrated by the fact that they made 28 of their 33 free throw attempts.

Another outstanding performance came from Jhonard Clarito, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. While Caelan Tiongson contributed 14 points, his aggressiveness on both ends of the floor enhanced Nocum’s skill. Inside, Leonard Santillan contributed size and tenacity in addition to his 12 points. The Elasto Painters had several threats thanks to their balanced scoring approach, which made it challenging for Phoenix to focus defensively.

Rain or Shine kept control with timely stops and effective long-range shooting, even though they committed 19 turnovers, which Phoenix turned into multiple fastbreak points. Every time Phoenix put up a fight, their three-point shooting helped maintain the lead. Although Guiao acknowledged the necessity to minimize errors, he gave the team’s collective effort credit for overcoming those mistakes.

Conversely, Phoenix fell to 2–6 and now has a difficult time securing a postseason spot. Although they lacked consistency throughout the game, the Fuel Masters displayed tenacity in some moments. They let Rain or Shine settle into an attacking rut because they couldn’t stop Nocum’s scoring spree.

With 15 points, Tuffin led the Fuel Masters, followed by 14 points each from Tyler Tio and Raffy Verano. The Elasto Painters’ smooth offense was never stopped by the Fuel Masters’ defensive routine, despite the energy that Jjay Alejandro and Jason Perkins brought off the bench. Phoenix’s inability to defend without fouling proved costly as they frequently sent their opponents to the line, even though they were able to take advantage of Rain or Shine’s turnovers.

Rain or Shine’s better team defense was evident in their ability to hold Phoenix to less than 100 points, a crucial defensive metric. In addition to being active on the glass, the Elasto Painters won the rebounding contest and kept Phoenix from scoring second-chance points.

The triumph highlighted Rain or Shine’s growth and the rise of new players while also bolstering the team’s chances of making the playoffs. At a pivotal moment in the season, Nocum’s exceptional performance demonstrated his increasing self-assurance and significance in the team’s rotation. Nocum, a former NCAA standout and Mapúa University alumnus, continues to display glimpses of two-way skill, and his ability to score in large quantities gives Guiao’s approach a new dimension.

Rain or Shine wants to keep up their momentum with a few games left in the elimination phase. Consistency will be crucial going ahead, as their next games will determine where they finish in the standings.