PBA: Jaylen Johnson dazzles as Rain or Shine sinks Macau to another loss

Rain or Shine is off to a winning start in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup after narrowly escaping Macau, 116-109, on Saturday at the Ynares Center Montalban.

American import Jaylen Johnson sizzled on both ends with 29 points, 24 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block as the Elasto Painters opened their campaign on the right note and dumped the guest club to a 0-2 start.

Adrian Nocum shone with 19 points, including a crucial three-point play down the stretch, alongside five rebounds, four assists, and four steals while Jhonard Clarito and Gian Mamuyac chipped in 16 and 11 markers each.

Both teams kept the game close almost the entire time, but Rain or Shine mounted a 105-98 cushion when Johnson fired a three-pointer late in the fourth period. The Black Knights, though, turned to Chon Pong Lao in their comeback attempt as he powered a 9-2 rampage that knotted the game at 107-all.

However, a technical foul on Tony Mitchell sent Mamuyac to the line before Nocum completed a three-point play off a dime from Caelan Tiongson, giving Rain or Shine a 111–107 cushion with 40.5 seconds left.

Clarito then delivered the finishing blow, sinking a dagger layup off a full-court inbound pass from Johnson before knocking down two free throws in the final nine seconds to seal the win.

Phoenix Shackelford paced Macau in their second loss in as many games, dropping 25 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists while Damian Chonqui churned out 22 markers, six dimes, and one board. 

Macau previously fell to Converge in their PBA debut last Wednesday. 

Scores:

Rain or Shine 116 – Johnson 29, Nocum 19, Clarito 16, Mamuyac 11, Lemetti 9, Tiongson 6, Roque 5, David 4, Caracut 4, Asistio 3, Villegas 3, Santillan 3, Manaytay 2, Malonzo 2, Belga 0.

Macau 109 – Shackelford 25, Chongqui 22, Leung 20, Mitchell 18, Cao 14, Lao 8, Sun 2, Chao 0, Lu 0.

Quarters: 24-28, 52-58, 83-78, 116-109.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News