Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao knew his team entered Game 1 of their PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series against Barangay Ginebra as underdogs. He instructed the Elasto Painters to simply show up, compete, and match the intensity of the Gin Kings from start to finish.

The Elasto Painters responded with a 115-111 victory on Wednesday night, May 20, at the Ynares Center Antipolo. The win came in front of 11,021 fans and gave Rain or Shine a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The game featured multiple momentum swings as both teams exchanged runs in a physical and tightly contested matchup. Rain or Shine eventually pulled away in the closing minutes to secure the upset win.

ROS closing surge

Yeng Guiao praised Ginebra’s depth, star power, and experience while emphasizing his team’s effort throughout the game. He credited his players for staying composed even after facing adversity during the contest.

Rain or Shine lost Caelan Tiongson to stomach issues and Luis Villegas to injury in the fourth quarter. Despite those setbacks, the team continued to execute on both ends of the floor.

Jaylen Johnson led the Elasto Painters with 40 points, 19 rebounds, three assists, and six three-pointers. He anchored the offense during the decisive closing run.

Jhonard Clarito added 25 points, including a crucial three-pointer that helped spark the late surge. Adrian Nocum, Gian Mamuyac, and Mike Malonzo also provided steady contributions on both ends.

Ginebra falls short

Justin Brownlee led Barangay Ginebra with 32 points, while RJ Abarrientos added 21 and Scottie Thompson contributed 17. Despite their production, Ginebra could not recover from Rain or Shine’s late push.

The game remained tight until the final minutes before ROS took control. Ginebra struggled to generate consistent offense during the decisive stretch.

Game 2 is scheduled for Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.