Youthful Rain or Shine also spoiled No. 2 overall pick Sedrick Barefield’s debut with Blackwater in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup on Aug. 20, the first Tuesday game of the league since 2020.
Painting a strong start are Aaron Fuller and Rain or Shine.
The returning import asserted dominance in his first game back in the Philippines as the Elasto Painters carved out a 110-97 victory against Blackwater in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday, August 20.
Fuller, who previously played under Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao with their former team NLEX, dropped a double-double of 24 points on a 9-for-11 clip he topped with 19 rebounds to help the Elasto Painters open its campaign with a victory in Group B.
The Bossing, meanwhile, fell to 0-1.
Holding a nine-point lead in the first half, Rain or Shine switched to higher gear and built leads of as many as 21 points, 83-62, heading to the fourth.
But Blackwater refused to surrender with James Kwekuteye knocking down three triples early in the final period to nudge the Bossing closer at 78-90 with 7:40 remaining.
The Elasto Painters responded with an 8-0 run to pad the lead back to 20 points, 98-78, capped off by a Fuller lay-up.
Troy Rosario then led a last-gasp charge for the Bossing, who drew close once again at 92-102 with under two minutes left in regulation.
But Anton Asistio countered with a triple and Luis Villegas finally put the nail on the coffin with a trey of his own to hike the lead back up to a comfortable 108-93 with 1:08 left.
Up next for Rain or Shine is crowd-favorite Brgy. Ginebra in the first out-of-town game of the season in Candon, Ilocos Sur on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 6:00 p.m.
Blackwater aims to bounce back against NLEX on Thursday, Aug. 22, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at 5:00 p.m.
The Scores:
RAIN OR SHINE 110 – Fuller 24, Tiongson 15, Santillan 12, Lemetti 11, Mamuyac 10, Asistio 9, Nocum 8, Clarito 8, Ildefonso 4, Villegas 4, Datu 3, Belga 2, Caracut 0, Norwood 0
BLACKWATER 97 – Barefield 18, Kwekuteye 17, Guinto 15, Ledo12, Roasario 10, David 7, Chua 6, Casio 5, Tungcab 3, Suerte 2, Jopia 2, Montalbo 0, Ponferrada 0, Hill 0, Mitchell 0