The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters have experienced pretty much everything this postseason. From blowout wins and losses to the buzz that comes with a player-driven sport, the drama has been box office both on and off the court. 

Andrei Caracut has been at the center of some of the headlines that have dominated the Elasto Painters’ playoff campaign. His scoring exploits and his off court inspirations have drawn praise and created fandoms, adding another element to this postseason. 

But Caracut is in a bit of a dry spell at the moment. 

In the last few games, Caracut has been unable to sustain the momentum he built earlier in the postseason as he has either cooled off in the second half of games or had muted performances overall. Part of it may have come from the defensive looks the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings have put on him, but with two games separating Rain or Shine and a shot at glory, they need Caracut more than ever. 

The Elasto Painters have been able to survive even as Caracut navigates through his slump of sorts, tying the series with the Gin Kings. 

A balanced scoring attack allowed them to tie the series, but a full strength lineup should help them going forward. In what is now a virtual best-of-three series, the Elasto Painters will need Caracut more than ever. He’s more than just an extra set of hands on offense; the former DLSU Green Archer’s presence creates more space for his teammates especially when his shot is on point. It has also been an indicator of the rest of the team’s perimeter game. 

Caracut has struggled with his shot in Games 1, 2, and 4 and it was only in Game 1 when Rain or Shine converted on more than 30 percent of their 3-point attempts (34.3 percent). A schematic change at this point may not be effective, more so if it wasn’t introduced yet or not rehearsed since early in the season or conference. 

Although there are times slumps just end on their own. Caracut generally takes good shots and he is due for a big game in this series. Sometimes it takes seeing one shot fall before the rest follow. 

While the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters have gone this far minus the hot shooting of Andrei Caracut, they may not have to wait too long before he rediscovers his touch. The misses and the dry spells must be frustrating at this point for the 30-year old, but experience has taught him that the process has its ebbs and flows, and going with the flow could help Caracut rediscover his touch before it’s too late.