RAIN OR SHINE tries to extend its winning start to four when it battles resurgent Blackwater in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday just before the league takes a Holy Week break at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Elasto Painters, buoyed up by their 109-102 win against the Meralco Bolts despite playing all-Filipino, clash with the Bossing (1-2) at 5:15 p.m.
San Miguel Beer and winless Macau Black Knights collide in the main game at 7:30 p.m.
The Beermen will unveil new import Justin Patton in lieu of Marcus Lee, who played his last game over the weekend.
As the lone unbeaten club in the tournament, ROS intends to stay that way, with stocky import Jaylen Johnson rejoining the team after serving his one-game ban recently against Meralco.
But the Elasto Painters will have their hands full against the Bossing, who are coming off a confidence-building 97-91 upset against the Magnolia Hotshots last week for their first win this conference.
Robert Upshaw, the seven-foot, burly new import, seemed to be what Blackwater really needed as he had a strong PBA debut of 35 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.
The 32-year-old former Fresno State and Washington standout also showed a feathery touch from the four-point line, sinking three of his shots to power the Bossing past the perennial title contender Magnolia Hotshots.
The 6-foot-9 Johnson will surely have hands full trying to contain Upshaw, though ROS coach Yeng Guiao also has comebacking big man Luis Villegas and veteran Beau Belga and Caelan Tiongson to provide the defensive help inside the shaded lane.
ROS for sure, will also try to outpace Blackwater with Adrian Nocum, Frank Lemetti, Andrei Caracut and Gian Mamuyac leading the way, along with Leonard Santillan and Jhon Clarito.
Blackwater has Sedrick Barefield, RK Ilagan and young big man Christian David out to anchor the team’s attack as they help out Upshaw.
Meanwhile, the Beermen are expected to vent their frustrations against the Black Knights since SMB is coming off a 118-92 shellacking at the hands of the Bol Bol-led TNT side last Saturday.
June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez will be anchoring the team’s offense, while SMB hopes Patton could supply the needed inside presence also.
The 6-foot-10 Lee had his best game in a San Miguel uniform after scoring 32 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, but the league’s all-time winningest ballclub suffered a 26-point beating from TNT.
But the presence of the 7-foot-1 Patton will give the Beermen an experienced big man to pair with Fajardo.