PBA: Rain or Shine banks on 9-2 closing run to fend off Macau

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters escaped a tough challenge from the Macau Black Knights, 116-109, during their PBA Commissioner’s Cup showdown on March 14, 2026, at Ynares Center II in Rizal.

With the win against the league’s guest team, the Elasto Painters opened their import-laced conference campaign with a momentum booster, sending Macau to its second consecutive loss.

However, it was not a flawless endgame finish for head coach Yeng Guiao’s wards after allowing the Black Knights to claw their way back from a 92-100 deficit.

Inside the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, Macau put up a valiant two-way effort to stun Rain or Shine with a 15-7 burst, which tied the game at 107-all with only a minute left in regulation.

Just when Macau thought every possession would go its way, a costly technical foul on import Tony Mitchell changed the complexion of the game.

Whistled for a technical foul for excessive complaining, Mitchell gave Rain or Shine an opening, and the Elasto Painters converted the free throw before pulling away with a 9-2 fourth-quarter closing run.

After the technical free throw, Rain or Shine piled up quick points through the collective offensive effort of Adrian Nocum, Caelan Tiongson, Jhonard Clarito and reinforcement Jaylen Johnson.

During that wild sequence, the Black Knights managed to add only two more points, squandering another close game in their second appearance in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Putting on a show in his PBA debut was Johnson, who impressed Guiao and the rest of the Rain or Shine management with 29 points, 24 rebounds and six assists.

Picking up where he left off after a consistent All-Filipino Cup, Adrian Nocum delivered 19 markers, while Clarito added 16 points.

Rain or Shine targets a 2-0 start on March 20, 2026, against Bol Bol and TNT Tropang 5G, while Macau hunts for its first win of the tournament on the same date against Justin Brownlee and the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings.