As one of the beacons of independence, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are more often than not the barometer for competitiveness in a PBA conference.
Their performances and transactions are not necessarily under a microscope, but they tend to be what many critics feel the league should be. The Elasto Painters play by the rules regardless of what they may feel about it. They grow and keep their talent, and Rain or Shine’s body of work speaks for itself as they’ve won a couple of championships in the past against fancied opponents.
While it’s been eight years since Rain or Shine last lifted a PBA trophy, they never shied away from the hard-nosed team-oriented style of play that has endeared them to many. It’s led to some relatively consistent success that has seen them become frequent postseason participants and perhaps the Elasto Painters are inching closer to that elusive championship.
It took a team effort from Rain or Shine to avoid having the unfortunate distinction of giving the Terrafirma Dyip their first win in the 2024-2025 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup. The Dyip were raring to get that breakthrough victory and they weren’t afraid to battle the Elasto Painters in the trenches. However, Rain or Shine relied on a balanced attack (10 players scoring at least six points) to chip away at the deficit and extend their win streak to four games.
The team effort was obvious as the Elasto Painters outhustled Terrafirma in the boards (59-45) and moved the ball well on offense (25-22 advantage in assists). Beyond the numbers, though, it’s the character that allowed Rain or Shine to erase any notions of a trap game.
Anyone can step up for the Elasto Painters, but they become a tough matchup when everyone plays their role to a tee. Rain or Shine has its fair share of shooters, bruisers, and playmakers and they thrive off one another. Against the Dyip, it was Adrian Nocum who provided the big shots in the pivotal third quarter and the rest of the Elasto Painters fed off his energy.
Other players may not get the attention or have their highlights posted, but their efforts are not for naught. The complexities of the PBA’s conference schedule give an imperfect picture of the standings, but Rain or Shine, the NorthPort Batang Pier, and the Meralco Bolts each have one loss. The Elasto Painters also handed guest team Hong Kong Eastern one of their two defeats, so that’s a confidence booster in itself.
For now, though, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters can look forward to a two-week break before resuming action against the Blackwater Bossing. The rest will definitely help them recharge and refocus as they prepare to make their championship aspirations closer to reality.
