Filipino Basketball Shines Bright in Bahrain

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters extended their strong Philippine Cup run last night with a 101-92 win over the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in Bahrain, where the PBA staged its first official games in the kingdom. This initiative is part of the league’s effort to expand its international footprint, bringing Philippine basketball to overseas fans and showcasing top talent to the Filipino community in the Middle East.

Rain or Shine asserted control early, outscoring Magnolia 27-24 in the first quarter and maintaining a narrow lead through the middle quarters. Despite a late push from the Hotshots, the Elasto Painters kept their cool to seal the win at Khalifa Sports City. Gian Mamuyac starred for Rain or Shine with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, helping his team take the top spot in the Philippine Cup standings with a game in hand, while Magnolia slips to fifth.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune before the match, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel coach Richard del Rosario highlighted the significance of the PBA’s Bahrain visit: "We are honored to hold this on the eve of Bahrain’s National Day. We hope this initiative encourages the Filipino community here to support the project and showcases the talents of Filipino players across the Middle East."

Magnolia Hotshots head coach LA Tenorio, a recently retired PBA legend known as the “Iron Man” for his record consecutive games played, reflected on the challenge of competing abroad with limited preparation: "Rain or Shine executed better down the stretch. Traveling to a new time zone on short notice is always tough, but both teams gave the fans an exciting game. We’ll take the lessons from this match and focus on our next fixtures," he told TDT.

The PBA’s Bahrain stint concludes tomorrow when Baranggay Ginebra San Miguel faces Rain or Shine at Khalifa Sports City Arena at 7PM. With large crowds of Filipino fans filling the arena and National Day festivities coinciding with the league’s 50th season, the tour highlighting the PBA’s commitment to expanding Filipino basketball’s global reach while celebrating its rich history.