Mike Nieto and Gian Mamuyac showed the way as Rain or Shine clobbered Meralco, 113-96, to get back on the winning track in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Gian Mamuyac (PBA Images)

The Elasto Painters bucked a slow start before riding the hot hands of their young guns to arrest their two game slide for a 3-3 record while adding to the woes of the Bolts who now absorbed their third straight loss, dropping them further to a 1-5 hole.

Nieto fired 21 points off the bench powered by five three-point connections while Mamuyac slashed his way through the Meralco defense to also add 21 points on a 7-of-13 clip from the field.

Steve Taylor Jr. also announced his return to the lineup after missing out on the team’s 110-91 loss to TNT with 22 points and 15 rebounds.

“Importante ‘yung larong ‘to sa’min. This is start of a three game week for us so we play Meralco today tapos sa Wednesday, Phoenix naman and then Saturday, again is I think it’s Magnolia. So it’s a big week for us. We need to get back after our slide, ‘yung dalawang talo namin,” said head coach Yeng Guiao.

Eager to end their own misery, the Bolts came out firing in the opening frame, building a 14-point lead, 32-18, late in the opening frame.

Mamuyac though lit the fire for ROS, dropping 15 of his output in the first half while Nieto, Taylor and Norbert Torres all found their groove in the huge second explosion where the Elasto Painters put up 31 points on the board while limiting the Bolts to just 16.

It was all Rain or Shine from there as it kept Meralco at bay in the second half, even weathering the offensive assault from Bolts import Johnny O’Byrant who bounced back as well with 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Raymond Almazan provided support with 20 points while Bong Quinto added 19, all of which went futile as Meralco’s losses continue to pile up.


Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/22/young-guns-mike-nieto-gian-mamuyac-shine-as-rain-or-shine-adds-to-meralco-woes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=young-guns-mike-nieto-gian-mamuyac-shine-as-rain-or-shine-adds-to-meralco-woes)