Magnolia def Rain or Shine, 121-69 [PBA S49 Govs’ Cup QF Game 2 | Sep. 27, 2024]

Rain or Shine’s youthful roster has showcased remarkable resilience by clinching a hard-fought Game 1 victory in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal series, overcoming Magnolia’s sharpshooting and intense pressure in the closing moments of the match.

Now, the task at hand for coach Yeng Guiao’s squad is to maintain this momentum against their seasoned adversaries.

A concerted blue-collar effort is essential as the Elasto Painters set their sights on replicating their success in Game 2 during a challenging away game at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Laguna this Friday.

One critical aspect Guiao and his team must focus on in the 5 p.m. showdown is countering Magnolia’s long-range firepower. In the series opener, the Hotshots converted six of their 12 attempts from beyond the arc, with Jerrick Ahanmisi leading the charge by sinking 3-of-4 for an impressive 50 percent shooting accuracy.

Furthermore, the Rain or Shine lineup—featuring Aaron Fuller, Jhonard Clarito, Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut, Caelan Tiongson, and Beau Belga—will face an added challenge in Game 2 as Magnolia unveils a new import in Jabari Carl Bird.

A former Boston Celtics player who most recently played in the Indonesian league, Bird is stepping in for Rayvonte Rice, who delivered a lackluster performance with just 16 points, two rebounds, and one assist in 34 minutes last Wednesday, after scoring five points and grabbing seven boards in an 89-82 defeat to Converge during the eliminations.

Standing at 6-foot-6, Bird will be officially measured a few hours before his anticipated PBA debut, joining forces with Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Ian Sangalang, Calvin Abueva, and Aris Dionisio. He will become the fourth import this conference to suit up for Magnolia, following Glenn Robinson III, who was replaced by Shabazz Muhammad before Rice took the floor after Muhammad’s injury.