MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine and NLEX put premium on familiarity as the two squads opted to bring back Aaron Fuller and DeQuan Jones, respectively in time for the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup set to start on July 10.
The Elasto Painters will be reunited once again with bullstrong Aaron Fuller, who’ll be in his sixth tour of duty in the PBA.
The 36-year-old Fuller first played for NLEX in 2017 under Yeng Guiao, who was then calling the shots for the team.
He returned the following year, then played for Blackwater in 2019, TNT in the 2021-22 season, before returning in 2024 with ROS.
The left-handed former USC alum is coming off a recent stint with RANS Pik in the Indonesian Basketball League where he averaged 23.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
ROS hopes Fuller could provide the inside presence he has known for, and help the franchise to build on its recent semifinal finish.
The Elasto Painters bowed to the Barangay Ginebra Kings in six games in their semifinal series.
Meanwhile, Jones, a known lethal scorer, arrived on Monday and will try to help NLEX redeem itself following another disappointing playoff finish in the Commissioner’s Cup.
The Road Warriors entered the quarterfinal round as the top seed but lost twice in a row to the eighth-seeded TNT Tropang 5G to make another quick playoff exit.
A former Orlando Magic and one-time NBA G League Most Improved Player, Jones came in to replace Myle Henry in the Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
He managed to help NLEX reach the playoffs, but lost to eventual champion TNT in the best-of-five quarterfinal series, 3-1.
