Rain or Shine opened its 2025 schedule the same way it ended last year – red-hot and dominant.

The Elasto Painters never skipped a beat and whipped the Blackwater Bossing, 122-106, to stretch their winning streak to five games in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

Anton Asistio, Santi Santillan and Adrian Nocum led ROS’ signature balanced attack as save for a second quarter hiccup where they failed to reach the 20-point mark, the Elasto Painters were on point on their run-and-gun offense to frustrate Blackwater.

Import Deon Thompson still spearheaded the team in scoring with 24 points to go with 18 rebounds and seven assists, but it was the outside sniping of Asistio and Santillan that set the tone for ROS’ rout.

Asistio had three triples in the first quarter alone and eventually finished with 18 points to go with 18 rebounds while Santillan added 20 points – seven of which he fired in the opening frame.

ROS led by as many as 23, 39-16, but Blackwater came alive in the second quarter and cut the deficit down to just nine at the break, 56-47.

The Elasto Painters, however, battled fire with fire in the second half and kept the Bossing at bay behind Nocum, who exploded for 18 of his 22 points in the last two quarters.

With the win, ROS solidified its grip on the second spot of the standings with a 5-1 record while sending Blackwater reeling to its third-straight defeat for a 1-6 slate.

Import George King remained the lone bright spot for the Bossing, pouring in 35 points laced with 12 rebounds and four assists in a losing effort. 

Mike Ayonayon had 11 points and Justin Chua and Christian David chipped in 10 points apiece in an effort to pick up the slack from the absence of Sedrick Barefield.