The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters are coming off a tough loss in their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup opener against NLEX.
Adrian Nocum and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will look to get on winning track as they square off against NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup on Wednesday, April 16.
Tip-off is at 5 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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Rain or Shine dropped its conference opener in frustrating fashion, falling to NLEX, 109-95, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last week.
But with veteran tactician Yeng Guiao at the helm, expect the Elasto Painters to come out with a renewed sense of urgency as they try to get into the win column early in the all-Filipino conference.
All eyes will be on young gun Adrian Nocum, who continues to emerge as one of the team’s most promising pieces.
Alongside Santi Santillan, Jhonard Clarito, and a gritty supporting cast, Nocum is expected to carry a heavier load as the Elasto Painters seek consistency and firepower in the import-less conference.
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Their challenge? A confident NorthPort side that opened its campaign with a convincing 97-75 win over Terrafirma. Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Munzon, and William Navarro have been in sync since their Commissioner’s Cup semifinal run, and the Batang Pier are quickly reasserting themselves as a rising threat.
Still, Guiao’s squads are never short on fight—and with pride and playoff positioning always in play, expect Rain or Shine to bring its trademark grit to the Big Dome.
Wednesday’s clash is more than just a battle for early wins—it’s a test of resilience, character, and how badly Rain or Shine wants to shake off the rust and remind the league it’s here to contend.
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(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]