RAIN or Shine held off Blackwater, 98-94, in a tuneup game on Thursday at the SGS Gym in Quezon City.
Jericho Cruz had 21 points for the Elasto Painters, who were coming off a 111-107 win against Phoenix.
Newly-acquired Jay Washington had 14 points and Beau Belga scored 12.
"Ayokong nakikitang nagre-relax mga players pero technically today that's how we started. Pero they looked OK naman after that," said RoS coach Caloy Garcia, who replaced Yeng Guiao at the helm.
The Elasto Painters turned a slim three-point lead into a breakaway on a 10-3 spurt capped by Gabe Norwood's three-pointer with 2:39 to go, 94-84.
New Blackwater recruits Mac Belo, Ael Banal, and young gun Art dela Cruz then conspired in the hopes of turning things around, but time were not on their side.
Selected by the Elite in the Gilas draft, Belo lived up to expectations and finished with 19 points for the Elite.
Kyle Pascual had 12 for Blackwater.
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