Rain or Shine Makes History with Record-Setting 151-95 Rout of Blackwater
In a stunning display of dominance, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters executed a near-flawless game plan to demolish the Blackwater Bossing 151-95 on Tuesday night, March 31, 2026, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. This victory not only kept the team unbeaten at 4-0 in the PBA Commissioner's Cup but also set a new all-time league record for the largest winning margin, eclipsing a mark that had stood for over four decades.
A Record-Breaking Performance
The previous record was held by U/tex, which defeated Great Taste 154-99 in the Open Conference semifinals on July 12, 1980. Rain or Shine's 56-point margin of victory now stands as the new benchmark in PBA history. The game was effectively decided early, as the Elasto Painters built a commanding 42-15 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 75-44 by halftime, allowing coach Yeng Guiao to rest key players like import Jaylen Johnson for extended periods.
Key Contributors and Strategic Mastery
Jaylen Johnson, despite limited minutes, finished with 20 points, including a memorable four-pointer that pushed the score to 129-84. However, the victory was a collective effort. Andrei Caracut ignited the offense with 18 of his 22 points in the opening quarter, while Deo Cuajao made an impressive debut with 15 points. Fellow rookie Arthur Roque joined Gian Mamuyac, Adrian Nocum, Santi Santillan, and Anton Asistio in scoring at least 12 points each.
Coach Yeng Guiao attributed the win to a strategic emphasis on transition play. "That's our identity. We like to get out quickly in transition, we like to find our rhythm in the open court. That's how we generate our looks and our shots," Guiao explained. The strategy was specifically designed to counter Blackwater's massive import, Robert Upshaw, who weighs over 350 pounds. "Our only chance really was to play the transition game. In the halfcourt, we had no answer for their import," Guiao added.
Rain or Shine's approach paid off handsomely, as the team hit 18 three-pointers and dominated fastbreak points 38-9. Upshaw, reportedly feeling under the weather along with teammate Sedrick Barefield, still managed 24 points and nine rebounds, while Barefield added 12 points in less than 18 minutes. RK Ilagan was the only other Bossing in double figures with 14 points, as Blackwater fell to 1-3.
San Miguel Beer Secures Victory in Nightcap
In the nightcap, San Miguel Beer bounced back with a 110-94 win over the Macau Black Knights, improving to 2-2 in the conference. NBA veteran Justin Patton made a strong debut with 24 points and 17 rebounds, along with three steals, two assists, and one block. CJ Perez led the scoring with 26 points, while June Mar Fajardo contributed a double-double of 16 points and 16 rebounds, sending the Black Knights deeper into an 0-5 hole.
