PBA: Rain or Shine flaunts artillery in 56-point rout over Blackwater

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters scored the most dominant win of the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup so far after annihilating the Blackwater Bossing by 56 points, 151-95, on March 31, 2026, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Already ahead by 27 points after the first quarter, the Elasto Painters never lost momentum, stepping on the gas pedal in every frame to complete the lopsided rout.

Andrei Caracut was the catalyst during Rain or Shine’s early offensive masterclass as the former De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers standout exploded for 18 points in the first quarter alone.

After his first four shots all went in, the Elasto Painters kept feeding him the ball, and the veteran combo guard rewarded their trust with an early scoring heater.

A balanced offensive attack added to Blackwater’s woes in the second quarter, this time spearheaded by Rain or Shine import Jaylen Johnson, rookie sensation Deo Cuajao and team captain Gian Mamuyac.

Despite a desperate defensive adjustment by going man-to-man, Blackwater’s efforts still came to no avail, as another Rain or Shine avalanche further increased the Elasto Painters’ cushion to 44 points heading into the final canto.

All hell broke loose when the Elasto Painters showed they still had enough gas left in the tank after starting the fourth quarter with a 12-1 run, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Johnson and a coast-to-coast layup from Caracut.

Deflated, embarrassed and lacking the body language needed to compete, Blackwater sank deeper as it absorbed a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit that put the finishing touches on a head-scratching loss.

Caracut capped Rain or Shine’s statement win with 22 points, including 18 in the first quarter alone, alongside four rebounds and three assists.

Johnson backstopped Caracut’s scoring showcase with a steady 20-point effort, while the duo of Mamuyac and power forward Leonard Santillan delivered 15 and 12 markers, respectively.

“That’s our identity,” Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said after the win.

“That’s how we generate our looks and our shots. Mabuti pumasok yung mga unang tira namin. Nagka-momentum kami sa umpisa pa lang.”

The Elasto Painters will seek to pick up where they left off on April 8, 2026, against the San Miguel Beermen, while Blackwater aims to bounce back on the same date against the Titan Ultra Giant Risers.