FOR Rain or Shine to progress to the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup semifinals, the Elasto Painters will first have to end a four-series skid against San Miguel.
The last time the Elasto Painters topped the Beermen in a playoff series was during their road to the 2016 Comm's Cup title when the former beat the latter in the best-of-five semifinals, 3-1.
READ: Twice-to-beat Rain or Shine embraces underdog tag vs San Miguel
Since then, however, RoS has been on the losing end against SMB again and again. Here are the instances.
2016-17 PHILIPPINE CUP
Rain or Shine defeated Blackwater, 103-80, to clinch the No. 8 seed in the quarterfinal round, setting up a match-up against San Miguel.
The Elasto Painters were then ousted by the top-seeded Beermen, 98-91. The ‘Death Five' was still in full force, but it was actually RR Garcia who did the most damage in the game with 25 points on 5-of-7 from three-point country.
2019 COMMISSIONER'S CUP
Sixth seed Rain or Shine downed Blackwater, 2-1, in the best-of-three quarters. It moved on to meet San Miguel, which pulled off an upset of its own when it overcame a twice-to-win disadvantage to oust No. 2 NorthPort.
The Beermen then got the better of the Elasto Painters, 98-95, in Game Four of the best-of-five semis. Chris McCullough had 35 points, 18 rebounds, and five blocks in the clincher, as they went on to become the lowest-seeded squad in history to win a PBA crown after defeating Terrence Jones-led TNT in the finals.
2023-24 (48TH SEASON) COMMISSIONER'S CUP
In Yeng Guiao's second playoffs since returning as head coach, Rain or Shine, as the seventh seed, lost to twice-to-beat San Miguel, 127-122, after the former conceded 42 third quarter points to the latter.
Incidentally, current Beermen import Bennie Boatwright played in that game and had 41 points before helping SMB to the title at the expense of Magnolia in the finals.
2023-24 (48TH SEASON) PHILIPPINE CUP
Rain or Shine met San Miguel for the second consecutive conference in the Season 48 Philippine Cup. The Elasto Painters beat TNT in the quarterfinals, but were then swept by the Beermen in the best-of-seven semis.
RoS lost to SMB, 107-100, in the clincher on May 24, 2024 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Gian Mamuyac scored 30 points for Rain or Shine, but Cjay Perez and June Mar Fajardo made clutch shots to fend off the Elasto Painters.
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