BAHRAIN — Rain or Shine shot lights out from three-point range to defeat Magnolia, 101-92, and secure a Top 4 finish with a twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals on Monday, December 15. The Elasto Painters made 17 of 32 three-point attempts, posting an impressive 53 percent clip at the Khalifa City Sports Stadium.

Jhonard Clarito led the scoring with 21 points, including a perfect 2-of-2 shooting from beyond the arc. Caelan Tiongson contributed 14 points on 4-of-7 threes, while Gian Mamuyac added 14 points on 2-of-3 shooting from deep.

Rain or Shine extends winning streak

The victory marked Rain or Shine’s third straight win, giving them an 8-2 record and a clear solo lead. The team now enters the playoffs with a twice-to-beat edge after finishing the eliminations in the Top 4, ensuring a strategic advantage in the quarterfinals.

Magnolia suffered a setback as guards Jerom Lastimosa and Paul Lee both exited early due to injuries in the first half. Their absence limited the Hotshots’ offensive options and contributed to Magnolia’s fourth loss in 10 games, tying them with Converge, NLEX, and Meralco for fourth place.

Key moments and clutch plays

Rain or Shine’s biggest lead came in the third quarter at 74-58, fueled by veteran Fil-Am Stanley Pringle, who scored all nine of his points from beyond the arc. Magnolia mounted a late fourth-quarter rally, cutting the deficit to 91-96 before Mamuyac responded with five consecutive points to secure the victory.

For Magnolia, Mark Barroca finished with 14 points, Peter Alfaro had 13, and Juan Gomez de Liano contributed 12. Big man Zavier Lucero was limited to nine points, below his team-best average of 17.4, further impacting the Hotshots’ effort to close the gap.