Good news for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters: Adrian Nocum cleared to play after ankle scare

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters recently faced a scare after star guard Adrian Nocum sprained his ankle, with the Tropang Giga’s management concerned about his fitness, especially since Caelan Tiongson had suffered the same injury earlier.

However, there’s good news for the Elasto Painters’ camp, as head coach Yeng Guiao confirmed that Nocum’s injury is not serious and that he will not miss any games — a welcome boost for the team.

“Hindi naman siya serious. Since nakita ko na medyo mababa na ‘yung chance of winning, hindi ko na siya pinilit. We are just preparing for the next game,” Guiao said in a media interaction.

MASTERPIECE 🎨

Adrian Nocum connects with Jhonard Clarito to hustle a shot inside the paint, keeping the lead for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters against the Magnolia Hotshots in the fourth quarter.#PBASeason49 #PBAAngatAngLaban #PBA50 #OneSports pic.twitter.com/3oXiglxWrQ

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) May 18, 2025

While the injury isn’t deemed serious, Nocum appeared to be affected by the lingering effects of the sprain, as he struggled in Rain or Shine’s 111–103 loss to the TNT Tropang Giga at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Wednesday, May 21. The 25-year-old scored just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field — a far cry from his 22.5-point average over the two previous games. He also missed all four of his three-point attempts.

In better news for the team, Caelan Tiongson is set to return for Rain or Shine’s next matchup against the Phoenix Fuel Masters on Wednesday, May 28, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. Tiongson had rolled his ankle during the Elasto Painters’ 119–105 win over the Magnolia Hotshots at the Ynares Center on Sunday, May 18.

The injury forced him to miss their most recent game, but his return will be a big boost for Rain or Shine, as he has been averaging 15.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in four appearances in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup.

“Caelan is coming back in the next game. It’s a good development,” Guiao added.

Rain or Shine has had a mixed run in the Philippine Cup so far, currently holding a 4–3 win-loss record, tied for sixth place with the Converge FiberXers in the standings.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.