MANILA, Philippines — The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters maintained their fierce start to the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, defeating the Terrafirma Dyip 124-117 on Wednesday at the Ynares Center with a masterclass in perimeter shooting. The Elasto Painters tied the all-time PBA record for the most three-pointers made in a single game and won their seventh straight game to maintain their status as the only unbeaten team in the league with an incredible 22 three-pointers.

With the win, Rain or Shine becomes the first team in Season 50 to secure postseason entrance and is officially guaranteed a position in the quarterfinals. The victory, according to head coach Yeng Guiao, demonstrated the depth and self-assurance of a team that has successfully combined high-scoring rookies with a seasoned core that won’t let up.

The first tip made the strategy clear: use constant ball movement and long-range volume to take advantage of Terrafirma’s zone defense. Early on, Anton Asistio spearheaded the attack, scoring 15 of his 18 points in a scorching first half. By halftime, Rain or Shine had a huge 26-point advantage, 67-45, thanks to Asistio’s four triples, which started an aggressive rhythm.

The triples came from all around the court, demonstrating Rain or Shine’s “equal opportunity” offense. With a monster triple-double of 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, import Jaylen Johnson demonstrated his versatility. He frequently served as the main facilitator to locate open shooters in the corners. Significant history was also created by the Elasto Painters’ bench, with rookie Jun Roque scoring 15 points and fellow freshman Deo Cuajao scoring nine, including the game-winning long-range dagger.

Rain or Shine joined an elite group in the PBA record books by matching the league record of 22 triples by the time the final whistle blew. “We’re not really thinking about the records; we’re just trying to play our game and give our rookies some live game experience,” Guiao said after the game. “Seven wins assure you of a quarters spot, so now we can start thinking about the twice-to-beat advantage.”

There were tense moments during the game despite the offensive fireworks. Terrafirma put on a fierce comeback in the fourth quarter, paced by a career-high 32 points from Ali Mubashar and 21 from Jerrick Ahanmisi. Due to Guiao’s decision to rest his starters for a significant amount of the final session, the Dyip took advantage of defensive errors to go on a fierce run, cutting a once-unbeatable lead to just seven points, 116-109, with less than three minutes left.

The Antipolo crowd was momentarily quieted when Brent Paraiso and CJ Catapusan scored on consecutive transition opportunities to ignite the Terrafirma surge. But in the end, the Elasto Painters’ depth proved to be too much. Before Cuajao’s 22nd team tripled to formally terminate the comeback attempt, Johnson and Roque calmed the ship with consecutive interior buckets.

Rain or Shine has successfully set itself apart from the competition with a 7-0 record. Now, obtaining a top-two seed, which carries the crucial twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals, takes precedence over simply qualifying. They are a nightmare for opposition defensive coordinators who can no longer afford to concentrate on a single star due to their balanced offense, which saw six players score in double figures.

Although the defeat hurts Terrafirma’s (3-4) chances of earning a middle-tier seed, their tenacity against the best team in the league serves as a model for the rest of their classification schedule. The Elasto Painters have solidified their position as the team to beat as the Commissioner’s Cup draws to a close, combining a “youth brigade” that seems prepared for the bright lights of the postseason with unprecedented shooting efficiency.

After a historic shooting performance against Terrafirma, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters have officially clinched their quarterfinal ticket, extending their perfect record to 7-0. Coach Yeng Guiao’s team, spearheaded by import Jaylen Johnson’s incredible triple-double (18 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists), displayed incredible depth and tied the PBA all-time record with 22 triples. The Dyip attempted a late 26-point rally, but the “Youth Brigade” held their composure to maintain the league’s lone perfect record.