D oug Kramer of Powerade gets rid of the pesky Jireh Ibanes of Rain or Shine during Game One of the best-of-seven semifinal series in the PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Cuneta Astrodome. (Ali Vicoy)

Game Thursday (Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City)

6:45 p.m. — Talk ’N Text vs Petron Blaze

Game Friday (Smart-Araneta Coliseum)

6:45 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs Powerade

MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine needed two full quarters to warm up Wednesday night. But coach Yeng Guiao, who insists the series with Powerade is far from over, probably doesn’t mind.

The Elasto Painters revved it up in the second half, overcoming a 15-point deficit in the third quarter on the way to blowing away the Tigers, 114-97, at the start of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-7 semifinal series at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Jeff Chan poured 17 of his 27 points in the second half, Paul Lee added 22 of his 25 during the same stretch and Larry Rodriguez 10 of his 16 as Rain or Shine brushed aside Powerade’s defensive effort in the last two quarters.

“It was a cause for concern because we almost gave up on our defensive game,” said Guiao. “We kept our poise, and you stack up the odds if you win Game One. But this is far from over.”

Even if Rain or Shine fell behind by 15 and wound up winning by 17?

“Oh, yes,” said Guiao. “This team (Powerade) can explode anytime.”

Bo Perasol, the Tigers coach, is unfazed.

“We’re not going to surrender this series,” he said. “They need three more wins, and we’re going to make our adjustments.”

The first half provided no clue to how the opener ended.

While Rain or Shine awaited the appearance of Gary David, somebody else came knocking for Powerade in the first half.

Josh Vanlandingham, from Everett Community College, buried four three-point shots, two each in the first two quarters, to spearhead the Tigers’ surprise attack away from the object of the Elasto Painters’ defense.

With Vanlandingham, No. 1 draft pick JV Casio and backup point Rudy Lingganay stepping up to scatter Rain or Shine strategy to muzzle the explosive David, the Tigers used an 11-4 run bridging the first and second periods to open a 54-43 lead at the half, eventually stretching the advantage to 15 early in the third.

David missed his first shot but drained consecutive triples on the way to 17 points in the first 24 minutes, getting early support to thwart Rain or Shine’s dragnet.

The Elasto Painters missed at least four pointblank shots and saw their own offense in disarray when the celebrated Paul Lee picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter, stepping out for Gabe Norwood nine minutes into the game.

Without Lee, Rain or Shine went rudderless, with Powerade seizing control.

Spacing their shots well along the perimeter and exploiting with speed and penetration mismatches against Rain or Shine’s switching defense, the Tigers went to the locker room holding the key to a potential upset.

But that was before Chan and Lee came barging in.

From 59-44 early in the second half, Rain or Shine rallied to wrest the lead, 78-76, at the end of three quarters, with Jeff Chan draining two three-pointers and the foul-hobbled Lee back in command.

The scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 114 — Chan 27, Lee 25, Rodriguez 16, Belga 9, Arana 8, Cruz 7, Quinahan 6, Ibanes 5, Tang 4, Norwood 3, Buenafe 2.

POWERADE 97 — David 30, Lingganay 12, Vanlandingham 12, Casio 12, Anthony 8, Kramer 8, Adducul 6, Antonio 5, Lassiter 2, Crisano 2, Cruz 0.

Quarters: 25-29, 43-45, 78-76, 114-97