RAIN or Shine will take on Meralco at a handicap on Friday as it plays without suspended import Jaylen Johnson in their PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Elasto Painters clash with the Bolts at 5:15 p.m. followed by the match between Barangay Ginebra and NLEX at 7:30 p.m.
The 6-foot-9 Johnson will be serving his one-game ban, following his punching incident with TNT wingman Glen Khobuntin in Rain or Shine’s come-from-behind 112-109 win against the Bol Bol-led TNT last week.
Johnson and Khobuntin were both ejected in the fourth period but Rain or Shine managed to stage a comeback from a double-digit deficit to stun Bol and TNT.
Against the Bolts, the Elasto Painters will be at a disadvantage as they have to find a way to contain Meralco’s seven-foot import Marvin Jones, who averaged 22 points and 11.5 rebounds in his team’s 2-0 start.
Rain or Shine will have to get the needed defensive effort from fit-again Luis Villegas, Caelan Tiongson and veteran Beau Belga, with guards Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut and Gian Mamuyac providing the offense.
Meanwhile, Ginebra looks to build on its 110-93 spanking of foreign squad Macau Black Knights last week.
The Gin Kings are fielding the shortest import in the conference with resident reinforcement Justin Brownlee back for another tour of duty.
At 37, Brownlee showed no signs of slowing down after firing 31 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals against the Black Knights.
Ginebra will more likely miss Scottie Thompson anew as he continues to recuperate from a recent surgery on his elbow.
The Gin Kings face a Road Warriors (2-1) side that’s smarting from a 103-97 loss to the TNT Tropang 5G.