RAIN or Shine begins its title bid when it battles foreign squad Macau in the main game of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.
The Elasto Painters will parade stocky import Jaylen Johnson when they battle the Blackwater Knights at 7:30 p.m.
Rain or Shine hopes to get off to a strong start in the midseason conference with the 29-year-old former Louisville big man expected to plug the hole in the middle.
Johnson served as former UAAP Most Valuable Player and Gilas Pilipinas wingman Kevin Quiambao’s teammate with the Goyang Sono Skygunners in Korea.
Johnson will work alongside Beau Belga, Gian Mamuyac, Andre Caracut, Leonard Santillan, Jhonard Clarito, Adrian Nocum and Caelan Tiongson.
The Black Knights got off on wrong footing after bowing to the Converge FiberXers, 102-94, on opening night last Wednesday.
Tony Mitchell, the former Magnolia import, leads the Macau quintet, along with Jenning Leung, Phoenix Shackelford, Damian Chongqui and Ramon Cao.
Meanwhile, opening day winners Converge and Terrafirma face off in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser.
The Dyip kicked off the import-spiced conference with a 112-82 spanking of Titan Ultra.
Import Ali Mubashar flexed his muscles in his PBA debut, dropping 27 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while Jerrick Ahanmisi, the newly minted PBA 3-point king, finished with 26 points, seven assists and five steals.
Although the Dyip won’t have their two best young players in Mark Nonoy and Louie Sangalang, the Ronald Tubid-coached squad managed to win behind the leadership of Joseph Eriobu and Paolo Hernandez.
Of course, Tubid hopes to see a better game from top rookie pick Geo Chiu as he adjusts to the PBA playing style.
Chiu missed all five of his attempts in his PBA debut but still managed to wound up with six points and 14 rebounds.
Converge has a stratospheric front court led by Justin Araña, Justine Baltazar, recent acquisition Jonnel Policarpio and seven-foot American import Kylor Kelly, who had a solid defensive effort of 19 rebounds and five blocks, along with 12 points in their win against Macau.
Two-time PBA champion Mikey Williams, who only played in the fourth quarter, had a decent debut of two rebounds and three assists for his new team Converge, despite missing all four of his attempts.
“Our momentum on offense shifted when Mikey took over the point [guard spot],” said Converge coach Delta Pineda.