(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the eighth of a series of PBA yearenders where we recap each team’s season and grade their performance from A to D.)
RAIN or Shine reached a milestone in 2018 under Caloy Garcia. The Elastopainters also represented the country in international competition.
Raymond Almazan goes MIA
Rain or Shine played most of its Governors’ Cup games in October without Raymond Almazan, who later returned after he and Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia were able to settle their differences.
Chris Tiu retiring?
There were rumors that Chris Tiu is set to retire from the PBA after six years in the PBA. Although nothing is still official about his future, Tiu had a game to remember on November 3 in what could be his final match in a Rain or Shine uniform, scoring a career-high 30 points in a 107-101 win over NLEX.
James Yap signs new deal
Following a career resurgence in his second season with Rain or Shine, the 36-year-old Yap signed a three-year deal with the Elastopainters. Yap’s season was highlighted by a 27-point performance in a quarterfinal victory over GlobalPort in the Commissioner’s Cup where he also hit seven triples.
Elastopainters top Commissioner’s Cup eliminations
Led by import Reggie Johnson, the Elastopainters had their best conference in the Commissioner’s Cup when they finished the eliminations with a 9-2 record. Rain or Shine fell short of reaching the finals, though, losing the best-of-five semifinal series to eventual champion Barangay Ginebra, 3-1. The semifinal appearance was the first under head coach Caloy Garcia, who took over from Yeng Guiao in 2017.
Rain or Shine core plays in Asian Games
After controversy struck Gilas Pilipinas due to the brawl against Australia during the Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and PBA decided that it will be the core of Rain or Shine which will represent the Philippines in the Asian Games.
Yeng Guiao was appointed as head coach and brought in Paul Lee to the Asiad team to set up a reunion of sorts between the two former Rain or Shine personalities. The team which was also fortified by NBA cager Jordan Clarkson finished fifth to surpass the Philippine team’s eighth-place finish in the 2014 Asiad.
GRADE: B+
The Elastopainters reached the semifinals for the first time during the post-Yeng Guiao era in 2018, and made the country proud by a credible showing in the Asian Games.
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