As much of a beacon of consistency the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters have been, a familiar foe has proved to be a thorn in their side. 

In the last three PBA conferences, the Elasto Painters have encountered the TNT Tropang 5G and in the last two campaigns, it has been the Tropang 5G that has come out on top. And now, with a spot in the 2025 Honda PBA Philippine Cup Finals on the line, both teams will meet again. 

Rain or Shine and TNT faced similar paths entering their latest matchup. Both faced more favored opponents and took them down in convincing fashion. Hard-nosed basketball is what has defined the Elasto Painters and it’s what allowed them to pull away in their sudden death quarterfinal against the NLEX Road Warriors. 

Star power has never been a defining trait for Rain or Shine, but they have players that play their roles to a tee, so much so that it elevates their play. A few of their players can be counted on for points, while there are those who handle the boards and bring on the brute force that they are well-known for. Playmakers are aplenty with the way the players execute the offensive sets with simple passes and more nifty dimes leading to a balanced offense. 

Unlike in previous conferences, the Elasto Painters will be facing a battered and bruised Tropang 5G squad that continues to fight. Jayson Castro remains out, while the rest of TNT is dealing with their own little injuries. The Tropang 5G are clearly not 100 percent health-wise, but such is the case in a grand slam chase. Rain or Shine aren’t complete themselves, as Felix Lemetti (left hand fracture), Beau Belga (vertigo), and Luis Villegas (ACL) are out for the foreseeable future. 

However, the Elasto Painters don’t see it as an excuse, as it has been a next-man-up mentality for them. Players have emerged in their peers’ absence as the likes of Jhonard Clarito, Mike Malonzo, and Andrei Caracut have stepped up. Clarito has benefitted from the extra opportunities as he has clearly punched above his weight so far in the Philippine Cup playoffs. 

TNT tends to play with smaller lineups so there are opportunities for Clarito and even Santi Santillan to continue hauling down rebounds with ease. Rain or Shine also has a younger backcourt than the Tropang 5G so the likes of Caracut and Adrian Nocum could wear down the Tropang 5G’s backcourt. The Elasto Painters will just have to deal with stopping Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy, and so we could see the likes of Giam Mamuyac and Gabe Norwood take on larger roles in this series. 

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters encountering a familiar tormentor should produce some bitter feelings, and that should motivate them as they hope to change the ending of this chapter. Talent favors their opponents and so they’re hoping that on days that talent doesn’t work out, hard work wins out.