RAIN or Shine stayed alive and kicking in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a big win over NLEX in their knockout battle to complete the playoffs cast.
On the brink of elimination, the Elasto Painters saw a ray of light in their campaign as they caught the last bus to the quarterfinals via a hard-earned 110-100 win over the Road Warriors last Sunday night at the Philsports Arena.
There were a lot of heroes for Rain or Shine in that win but Andrei Caracut shone the brightest after coming up with a career-high performance to emerge as the unanimous choice as Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for Nov. 30 to Dec. 4.
Caracut unleashed 19 points laced by three triples to go along with seven rebounds and three assists without a turnover in 25 minutes of play as the Elasto Painters clinched the eighth spot and arranged a quarterfinal duel against guest team and top seed Bay Area Dragons.
The former La Salle sniper poured five of his total output midway through the payoff period where Rain or Shine unloaded a 14-2 run to turn an 87-all count to a 101-89 cushion heading home.
Caracut, selected no. 23 overall in the 2021 draft, had six markers, two rebounds and three assists in Rain or Shine’s 90-106 loss to Magnolia that paved the way for the knockout duel against NLEX.
In two games, the combo guard averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists to help the Elasto Painters barge into the playoffs in coach Yeng Guiao’s first conference with the franchise since his return.
Caracut prevailed over Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang and Barangay Ginebra’s LA Tenorio for the weekly honor being handed out by the men and women regularly covering the PBA beat.
