E-Painters hoping for different ending

Rain or Shine looks to write a different script against a familiar foe in TNT as they collide in an exciting Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven semifinals series starting 26 February.

The Elasto Painters come into the showdown with a chip on their shoulders and aim for payback.

“We lost our last series against TNT, 4-1, and we will look at that as motivation for this next series,” Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao.

The Tropang Giga eliminated the Elasto Painters in the semis on their way to annexing a second straight Governors’ Cup crown last year in the season-opening conference.

“We don’t want to be in the same situation. So, we’ll try our best and see what happens,” Guiao added.

Rain or Shine and TNT collide in the playoffs for the third straight conference. The Elasto Painters booted out the Tropang Giga in last season’s Philippine Cup quarterfinals in three games.

Behind import Deon Thompson, Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut and Jhonard Clarito, Rain or Shine completed a come-from-behind, 2-1, quarters win over third-seeded Converge with a 112-103 victory in Game 3 last Sunday for its third straight semis stint.

But unlike in their first two attempts, the Elasto Painters are determined to secure a championship seat that has eluded the franchise since winning it all in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.

“As I’ve said before as long as you’re there fighting, you might get lucky and be the one to get through (to the finals),” Guiao said.

“What is important is you’re there, you’re fighting. We just want to give ourselves a chance to play and test ourselves with the challenges facing stronger teams.”

Rain or Shine hopes to carry a psychological advantage over No. 2 ranked TNT, which it beat, 106-96, at the end of the eliminations to clinch an outright playoffs seat.

The Elasto Painters are looking to capitalize on the long break as the league gives way to Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the third window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers to sharpen their firepower and build better chemistry.

“We’ll focus on just getting better. If you’re too relaxed and out of focus when the series starts, I think that’s going to be a disadvantage,” Guiao said.

“You still want to be sharp. You still want to be fine-tuned and ready to battle. If you take a long vacation that’s not gonna work for us.” Mark Escarlote