With their breakout campaign on the line, Andrei Caracut put the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on his shoulders and towed them to the finish line.

Caracut was unstoppable down the stretch of Rain or Shine’s 113-103 win versus the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in the deciding Game 5 of their best-of-five quarterfinal match-up in the 2024 PBA Governor’s Cup.

After missing most of the third quarter due to foul trouble, Magnolia import Jabari Bird was raring to lead their comeback. Bird hit a pull-up jumper midway through the fourth quarter to bring Rain or Shine’s lead down to two, 101-99, and it looked like the Hotshots were poised to take the lead.

But then Caracut took over.

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The 28-year-old guard responded with three crucial baskets that helped the Elasto Painters secure the win. First, he hit a running jumper to beat the shot clock. Then, a crafty up-and-under scoop layup, followed by a stunning fade-away floater that kissed the glass before dropping in. Caracut’s solo 6-2 run extended Rain or Shine’s lead to six, 107-101, with just 1:19 remaining.

What made Caracut’s timely shots even more meaningful was that it was a symbolic passing of the torch for the Elasto Painters. 

The last two baskets of Caracut’s impressive sequence were made while he was defended by Magnolia’s Paul Lee, the same player who was the Finals Most Valuable Player when Rain or Shine won its last PBA championship back in 2016. Eight years later, Caracut is showing the same type of spunk and confidence that once made Lee an icon for this franchise.

There is still a long way to go before Caracut and his teammates can win a title for this team just like Lee, but with the way that this team is playing under head coach Yeng Guiao, it should only be a matter of time before they hoist up a PBA championship trophy.

Caracut wound up scoring eight of his 14 points in the decisive fourth quarter. Jhonard Clarito and Adrian Nocum were the top-scoring locals for the Elasto Painters with 17 points apiece. Rain or Shine import Aaron Fuller was impressive as always, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.

Santi Santillian added 12 points while Keith Datu had 11, including a crucial pair of three-pointers–one at the end of the third quarter and another to begin the fourth period. 

The battle is far from over for the Elasto Painters, as they now advance to the semifinals to face the formidable TNT Tropang Giga. Rain or Shine appears to have the edge, boasting a deeper roster of local talent and the tactical expertise of coach Yeng Guiao. However, TNT’s dynamic import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is capable of shifting the tide single-handedly, setting the stage for an exciting and unpredictable semifinal showdown.

Regardless of the outcome of their upcoming duel with TNT, the future has undeniably arrived for Rain or Shine. After years of patient building through the draft, the Elasto Painters are now reaping the rewards. Caracut, once a highly touted high school recruit, has finally lived up to the lofty expectations from a decade ago, earning his place as one of the top guards in the PBA today. Caracut is ready to lead Rain or Shine back to the top, and with him at the helm, the Elasto Painters should easily reclaim their place among the PBA’s elite.

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