MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine overcame a sluggish start and leaned on its triumvirate of import Jaylen Johnson, Adrian Nocum and Jhon Clarito to beat Macau, 116-109 and get its PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup title bid on the right track on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
Johnson delivered 29 points, 24 rebounds and six assists, Nocum had 19, while Clarito flirted with a double-double after finishing with 16 and nine rebounds.
ROS trailed by as many as 12 points in the second period, but slowly recovered its bearing come the second half.
A 31-20 third quarter exchange allowed the Elasto Painters to regain control and managed to maintain their lead en route to a triumphant start for the conference.
The Black Knights dropped their second straight game, since opening their campaign with a 102-94 loss to the Converge FiberXers.
That match saw Macau blow a 16-point lead.
Phoenix Shackelford led Macau with 18 points, Jenning Leung had 17, while Daniel Chongqui 16.