Rooting for an underdog? Rain or Shine is your team

MANILA, Philippines – Rain or Shine makes it hard not to root for it.

In a league that has seen the same powerhouse teams take turns at the throne, the Elasto Painters are shaping up as arguably the biggest threat to the status quo. 

And their historic start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup has been a source of excitement for fans looking for change. 

“People will root for the underdogs, especially if the underdogs are doing well. We know the circumstances in the PBA — people are looking for something new, something different. It’s always the usual suspects winning the championship,” Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao told Rappler in a mix of Filipino and English. 

The Elasto Painters were the last independent team to win a title when they ruled the 2016 edition of the Commissioner’s Cup following a six-game conquest of now-defunct Alaska in the finals.

Since then, the last 22 championships have been won by teams from either San Miguel Corporation or the MVP Group. 

The San Miguel Beermen have been the most dominant team of the past decade with nine titles, followed by the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings with seven and the TNT Tropang 5G with four. The Magnolia Hotshots and the Meralco Bolts won one each. 

But Rain or Shine has shown promise in its bid to challenge that duopoly as it enjoyed its best start in franchise history, winning all of its first seven games of the conference.

Historic start

That unbeaten seven-game run brought the best out of the Elasto Painters in every possible way as they escaped with narrow victories and cruised to a record-breaking blowout.

Rain or Shine gave former NBA player Bol Bol a rude welcome in the PBA when it pulled off a 112-109 win over TNT on March 20 even without import Jaylen Johnson for much of the fourth quarter after he got ejected for a fistfight with Glenn Khobuntin.

Johnson served a one-game suspension and left the Elasto Painters parading an all-Filipino lineup against Meralco, but they still hacked out a 109-102 triumph on March 27. 

When Johnson came back, Rain or Shine flexed its might as it scored the most lopsided victory in PBA history with its 151-95 thrashing of Blackwater on March 31, its winning margin of 56 points breaking the decades-long record of 55 set by U-Tex in its 154-99 demolition of Great Taste in the 1980 Open Conference, according to league chief statistician Fidel Mangonon.

The Elasto Painters’ character was tested when they nearly blew a 25-point lead to San Miguel — a test they eventually passed by fashioning out a 116-112 win on April 8. 

Rain or Shine’s other victories were against guest team Macau (116-109), Converge (120-111), and Terrafirma (124-117). 

“To the hardcore PBA fans who are probably more discerning, they know that our team tries to win the right way. We try to keep our integrity intact. We follow the rules,” said Guiao. 

“We’re a team that fights the right way. It’s hard, it takes time, and you don’t even know if you’re going to succeed because it’s just the beginning. But you still try to do it the right way.” 

Built, not bought

While teams with significantly more resources have formed championship rosters by stockpiling stars, usually through controversial trades that often raise fans’ eyebrows, the Elasto Painters have built a competitive lineup through the draft.

Out of the 17 local players currently signed by Rain or Shine, only veterans Beau Belga and Stanley Pringle were not drafted by the team. 

Leonard Santillan, Anton Asistio, and Andrei Caracut were picked in 2021; Gian Mamuyac and Jhonard Clarito in 2022; Luis Villegas, Keith Datu, and Adrian Nocum in 2023; Caelan Tiongson, Felix Lemetti, and Mike Malonzo in 2024; and Joshua David, Jun Roque, Deo Cuajao, and Christian Manaytay in 2025. 

With Guiao at the helm, the Elasto Painters have shown a penchant for unearthing hidden gems and turning them into standout players.

A prime example is Nocum, a late second-round pick who has become Rain or Shine’s most potent weapon among the locals as he averages 16.3 points to go with 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 steals this conference.

There is also Jhonard Clarito, another second-round selection who has been a model of energy and effort — his norms of 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in a tournament that features opposing teams reinforced by seven-foot imports a proof of his impact. 

And Nocum and Clarito are not the only ones.

The rest of the Elasto Painters have had their chances to shine, with rookies Manaytay, Roque, Cuajao, and David also getting opportunities to showcase their wares. 

“We know we will not be the most talented, we know that we will not get the biggest, the most athletic athletes, but we know we can unmask the potential of players. We take pride in that. That is the identity that we try to cultivate,” said Guiao. 

“I take pride in that and I look at that as my coaching niche in the PBA. I can’t win 22 championships like Tim Cone or a number of All-Filipino championships, that’s not my objective and goal anymore. I’m just trying to be the best at…adding the best value to my team.” 

Long way to go

As exciting as the prospects are for Rain or Shine, the idea of ending a decade-long title drought is far from Guiao’s mind.

The Elasto Painters, after all, have made the semifinals in four of the last five conferences only to lose to San Miguel and TNT — teams that have combined for six of the last seven championships.

“I don’t want to talk about winning a championship because that’s too far. It’s too far and the possibility is very low,” said Guiao, who owns seven PBA titles. 

“I feel we have a chance, I feel we have a good chance. But only when we get to the quarters or semis can I really tell you if this is our best chance.” 

Rain or Shine saw its perfect start come to a screeching halt following an 87-83 loss to Phoenix on April 21, a reality check that underlines the Elasto Painters’ rigorous and uncertain path to a PBA crown.

But that will not change Rain or Shine’s approach. 

“It’s really just standing up for values and principles and being patient about it. If you want instant results, it’s possible, but you have to be willing to pay the price, literally and figuratively. Us, we’re trying to be ethical, we’re trying to be honorable in trying to achieve that goal. I think that also appeals to some fans, not to everyone, but it appeals to some fans,” said Guiao. 

“We’re not trying to win at all costs, we’re just trying to win the right way.” – Rappler.com