Rain or Shine’s response to the devastating news it recently received will be closely watched when the current league leaders lock horns with NLEX in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup this Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The 7:30 p.m. showdown pits the No. 1 and No. 2 teams of the ongoing midseason conference against each other, but much of the spotlight is on the Elasto Painters, who must now soldier on without two key players.
Currently holding an 8-1 record, Rain or Shine will be without key playmaker Felix Lemetti and rookie Jun Roque for an extended period after both were reportedly diagnosed with anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
Roque sustained his injury during their most recent outing—a 91-82 win over Magnolia last Sunday—as confirmed by the team through its social media accounts.
Lemetti, meanwhile, went down during their 124-117 victory over Terrafirma last April 15 and has since been sidelined, cutting short what had been a promising personal campaign.
It is a significant setback for a Rain or Shine squad that has been one of the most impressive teams in this conference, opening the tournament with seven straight wins and now positioning itself on the brink of securing a Top Four finish.
The challenge, however, only gets tougher against an NLEX squad that is chasing the same goal. The Road Warriors are tied for second place with Barangay Ginebra at 7-2, and a win would allow them to seize solo possession of the No. 2 spot.
NLEX enters the matchup on a high note after a 95-85 victory over Terrafirma, where Robert Bolick delivered another clutch performance, including a tough shot late to seal their quarterfinal berth.
Despite Rain or Shine’s personnel issues, the Elasto Painters are still favored by the Casino Plus sportsbook. Coach Yeng Guiao’s squad is pegged to win by 6.5 points, with the over/under set at 214.5 total points.
Bets can be placed via: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/home/inGame?name=basketball&title=SportBet.
Opening the double-header at 5:15 p.m. will be Magnolia and Titan Ultra, with the Hotshots aiming to keep their “Magic Eight” hopes alive.
Magnolia currently sits at No. 8 with a 4-5 record, and a win would lift it to seventh place, currently held by San Miguel at 5-5 after edging Meralco, 103-92, on Tuesday night.
According to the Casino Plus sportsbook, Coach LA Tenorio’s charges are heavily favored against a Giant Risers squad that is mired in a four-game losing streak and sits near the bottom of the standings.
The Hotshots are listed as -14.0 favorites, with the over/under for the game set at 203.0 total points.
