Rain or Shine refused to let the series slip away, facing a crucial Game 4 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, the Elasto Painters delivered one of their most complete performances yet, overpowering Barangay Ginebra, 97-85, on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to knot the series at two games apiece.
What once looked like a tightening grip for Ginebra has now become a dead-even battle, with the semifinals officially reduced to a virtual best-of-three showdown.
With momentum suddenly shifting, Game 5 on Friday now carries even greater weight as both teams race for a coveted Finals berth.
The Elasto Painters built a lead that ballooned to as much as 26 points, fueled not by one explosive scorer, but by a collective effort that highlighted the team’s depth on both ends of the floor.
Import Jaylen Johnson anchored the attack with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, controlling the paint while keeping the offense flowing.
But the biggest difference came from the locals, who consistently answered every Ginebra rally attempt.
Team captain Gian Mamuyac sparked the offense with 12 points, including two timely triples that energized the Rain or Shine bench. Rookie Christian Manaytay continued to impress under pressure, adding 11 points, while Adrian Nocum and Jhonard Clarito chipped in identical scoring outputs.
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Rain or Shine evens the semis series at 2 apiece. #PBA50 #PBA50LID pic.twitter.com/2YJIsGOFNh
— PBA (@pbaconnect) May 27, 2026
In total, 12 out of the 13 players fielded by Rain or Shine managed to score at least three points, a balanced system that kept Ginebra’s defense guessing throughout the night.
Still, it was defense that truly defined the Elasto Painters’ bounce-back victory. Rain or Shine made life difficult for Ginebra’s usually reliable stars, forcing uncomfortable possessions and limiting clean looks from deep.
Justin Brownlee finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, but the numbers came through a tough 9-of-20 shooting performance as defenders constantly pressured him.
RJ Abarrientos never found his rhythm offensively, scoring only eight points on eight attempts while struggling from long distance. Scottie Thompson tried to carry the load with 20 points, but his impact elsewhere was limited to just two rebounds and three assists.
Japeth Aguilar was the only other Gin King in double figures, collecting 10 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the series.
Despite a brief late push that cut the deficit to 10, Ginebra could not fully recover from its cold shooting night.
The Gin Kings misfired from beyond the arc all game long, finishing just 5-of-23 from three-point range for a poor 21.7 percent clip. Now with the series tied 2-2, the semifinal war shifts into its most critical stretch yet.
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