RAIN or Shine didn't have the benefit of an import when it played giant TNT Tropang Giga Saturday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.
Steve Taylor Jr. was placed under health and safety protocols and was not around at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Steve Taylor Jr. out due to protocols
That left the Elasto Painters without a solid man in the middle who could have matched up with TNT counterpart Cameron Oliver.
TNT won, 110-91.
Rain or Shine gave TNT a good fight early on, erasing a 21-point first quarter lead to come within 55-50 at the break.
But a bad third quarter did the Elasto Painters in as they were outscored by the Tropang Giga during that stretch, 32-14, to bring the lead back to as high as 87-64 with a full quarter to go.
The Tropang Giga raised their record to 2-1 as they won for the second straight game, while the Elasto Painters suffered a second consecutive loss for a 2-3 slate.
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