Rain or Shine overcomes 50-point game of TNT import

Rain or Shine overcame Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson’s 50-point debut as the Elasto Painters subdued the TNT Tropang Giga, 119-112, to secure a quarterfinal spot in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup on Friday, January 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Elasto Painters rode on 15-6 endgame blitz behind import Demetrius Treadwell and Andrei Caracut’s timely baskets inside the final three minutes of the game to seal the win and his team’s playoff seat.

Rain or Shine overcomes 50-point game of TNT import

Rain or Shine won for the fifth straight time since a 0-5 start for Season 48.

Rain or Shine’s victory also formally eliminated the Terrafirma Dyip, who have lost their last six games and are currently at 10th spot with a 2-7 record.

Treadwell registered a 20-20 effort after scoring 25 points and hauling down 23 rebounds, while Caracut finished with 23 as the Rain or Shine duo spoiled the explosive PBA debut of Rahlir, who came in to replace his younger brother Rondae who is nursing a neck injury.

Rahlir became the fifth player in TNT franchise history to score 50 points after Jerod Ward, Damien Cantrell, Asi Taulava and Jalen Hudson.

Rahlir added 16 rebounds and four assists in a herculean effort, in a crowd that included Rondae.

Calvin Oftana scored a PBA career-high 37 points, lacing his hot shooting night with five triples, but his effort went for naught as TNT dropped its third straight game and fell to 4-6 overall.

TNT fell to eighth in the standings, with sister team NLEX (3-6) enhancing its chances for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Rey Nambatac, meanwhile, came off the bench to score 19 points, while Beau Belga added 16 for Rain or Shine.