Rain or Shine gets back at San Miguel

Rain or Shine ensured there would be no repeat of a gut-wrenching defeat against San Miguel.

The Elasto Painters outpaced and outgunned the Beermen, securing a decisive 122-112 victory in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, September 19. This win allowed Rain or Shine to avenge their earlier loss in the first round and reclaim momentum in the tournament.

The turning point came during a dominant third quarter led by Andrei Caracut, who scored 12 of his 20 points in that frame. His explosive performance was bolstered by consistent contributions from his teammates, helping the Elasto Painters notch their seventh win in nine outings.

This victory not only put Rain or Shine in contention for the coveted top seed but also snapped a frustrating streak against San Miguel, a team they had failed to defeat in their last 11 encounters, including a narrow loss in their previous matchup which saw the Beermen triumph 113-112 thanks to a buzzer-beating jumper from June Mar Fajardo.

With a slim lead of 67-66 early in the third quarter, Rain or Shine unleashed a pivotal 12-3 run, establishing a comfortable double-digit advantage at 79-68. Despite the Beermen’s relentless efforts to close the gap, the Elasto Painters maintained their lead until the final whistle.

Caracut not only shone with his four three-pointers but also facilitated well, dishing out eight assists without committing a single turnover.

Import Aaron Fuller and Beau Belga excelled on both ends of the court. Fuller limited Fajardo to a mere 14 points while contributing 17 points and 11 rebounds of his own. Belga also had an impressive outing, scoring a conference-high 16 points, including two three-pointers.

Supporting the effort, three other players scored in double figures for Rain or Shine. Adrian Nocum tallied 16 points, Gian Mamuyac added 12, and Gabe Norwood recorded a solid double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

For San Miguel, CJ Perez led the way with 27 points, six rebounds, and six assists but was unable to finish the game after fouling out with 4:15 remaining, while the Beermen trailed 115-104. Terrence Romeo had a strong second quarter, finishing with 24 points, and import Jordan Adams also contributed 24 points, along with five rebounds and five steals, although he did not see action in the final minutes.