Former UP standout and PBA draft pick Mikee Reyes praised Rain or Shine’s behind-the-scenes content, saying it helps humanize players and grow the PBA’s fanbase.
For years, the PBA has searched for ways to connect deeper with younger fans in an era dominated by social media, short-form videos, and behind-the-scenes access.
According to Mikee Reyes, one team may have already figured it out.
While Rain or Shine continues to surprise people with its playoff run under coach Yeng Guiao, Reyes believes the Elasto Painters are quietly becoming one of the league’s most important teams for another reason entirely: they understand how to make fans care beyond the final score.
In a passionate online commentary during the ongoing PBA semifinals, the former UP Fighting Maroons standout and 2016 PBA Draft pick pointed to Rain or Shine’s consistent behind-the-scenes videos as a blueprint other teams should seriously consider following.
“Bakit good for the league yung Rain or Shine? Kasi nakikita natin yung basketball in another light. Nakikita natin yung daily activities ng pagiging PBA player,” Reyes said.
Instead of limiting fan interaction to game broadcasts and postgame interviews, Rain or Shine has steadily opened its doors online — showing practices, locker room moments, jokes between teammates, road trips, and even ordinary interactions that rarely make it onto television.
For Reyes, that kind of access changes how fans see players.
Rather than distant athletes appearing only during games, the players begin to feel relatable and real.
And perhaps no one represents that unexpected rise in visibility more than Rain or Shine utility man Eric Nanas.
Originally working behind the scenes, Nanas has slowly become one of the franchise’s most recognizable personalities online thanks to his appearances in team content and interactions with players.
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INSPIRED BOSS!!
According to Eric Nanas, Andrei Caracut looked extra inspired in Rain or Shine’s win over San Miguel, saying his shots were falling smoothly because his “lucky charm” was watching live. l Via Zeus Valdez pic.twitter.com/A1jLDZ7j1v
— Fastbreak (@fastbreaknewsph) May 15, 2026
To Reyes, that added visibility carries real value. “Si Eric Nanas deserves a raise,” Reyes said.
“Yes, ginagawa niya trabaho niya as utility. Pero yung ginagawa niya outside that—being able to market Rain or Shine, being able to humanize Rain or Shine, humanize the practices and the players—may value ‘yon.”
Reyes, who transitioned into sports media and content creation after his basketball career, argued that content creation is no longer optional for teams hoping to grow their audience.
He believes fan engagement today extends far beyond what happens during games themselves.
“Please mag-content kayo. Because it will help not only your brand, but the league,” Reyes said, addressing players directly.
His comments arrive at a time when Rain or Shine has become one of the conference’s biggest surprise stories.
The Elasto Painters are already drawing attention for their gritty semifinal run, but their online presence has amplified that momentum even further, helping casual viewers become emotionally invested in the personalities behind the team.
For Reyes, that may ultimately be the bigger win. In a league constantly searching for ways to evolve, he sees Rain or Shine proving that basketball fans no longer just want highlights — they want connection.
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