Rain or Shine Edges Meralco 85-83 to Extend Winning Streak to Four in PBA Governors’ Cup

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters continued their strong run in the PBA Governors’ Cup by narrowly defeating the Meralco Bolts 85-83 on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila. This victory marked Rain or Shine’s fourth consecutive win, improving their record to 4-2 in the tournament.

Coming off a thrilling 98-97 victory over Magnolia just two days earlier, the Elasto Painters managed to hold off a determined Meralco squad in a tightly contested game. Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao described the performance as one of their worst this conference but credited the team’s resilience and ability to execute in the final moments for securing the win.

Import Aaron Fuller played a pivotal role, delivering the game-winning basket with 39 seconds remaining. Fuller finished with a double-double, scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. He emphasized that the team’s success was not only due to their scoring ability but also their defensive efforts, which he identified as key to maintaining their winning streak.

Adrian Nocum, who had been instrumental in Rain or Shine’s recent victories, including the previous game against Magnolia, had a mixed night. He missed two crucial free throws with just over 13 seconds left that could have extended the Painters’ lead to four points. Additionally, Nocum was called for a foul that sent Meralco’s Bong Quinto to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game. Quinto, however, missed both attempts with two seconds remaining, preserving Rain or Shine’s slim lead.

Supporting contributions came from Deo Cuajao, who added 12 points, while Jhonard Clarito and Caelan Tiongson each chipped in 11 points. Their efforts helped Rain or Shine maintain a competitive edge throughout the game despite offensive struggles at times.

For Meralco, Chris Newsome led the scoring with 16 points. New import Antonio Hester recorded a solid performance with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Cliff Hodge and Javee Mocon also contributed significantly, tallying 14 points apiece. Despite their efforts, Meralco was unable to capitalize on late-game opportunities to overcome Rain or Shine.

The game underscored Rain or Shine’s ability to find ways to win even when not playing at their best, a factor that has been crucial to their recent success in the Governors’ Cup. Their next challenge will be to sustain this momentum as the tournament progresses, while Meralco will look to regroup after a narrow loss in a closely fought contest.