# 2008–09 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters season

The 2008–09 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters season was the third season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
The team's notable move was drafting their future star Gabe Norwood of George Mason University. The team also drafted La Salle point guard TY Tang. They also traded the last year's first pick Joe Devance to Alaska Aces for Sol Mercado and Eddie Laure.
The team reached the semifinals for the first time in franchise history in 2009 Fiesta Conference, but lost to Ginebra.

## Key dates

* August 31: The 2008 PBA draft took place in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Height | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 1 | Gabe Norwood | 6 ft. 5 in. | Shooting guarrd | Philippines | George Mason |
| 2 | 12 | Tyrone Tang | 5 ft. 7 in. | Point guard | Philippines | De La Salle |

## Results
### Philippine Cup
#### Team standings

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| 1 | Alaska Aces | 12 | 6 | .667 | — | Advance to semifinals |
| 2 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 11 | 7 | .611 | 1 | Advance to semifinals |
| 3 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 10 | 8 | .556 | 2 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 4 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 10 | 8 | .556 | 2 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 10 | 8 | .556 | 2 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 6 | San Miguel Beermen | 9 | 9 | .500 | 3 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 7 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 8 | 10 | .444 | 4 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 8 | Air21 Express | 8 | 10 | .444 | 4 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 9 | Coca-Cola Tigers | 7 | 11 | .389 | 5 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 10 | Red Bull Barako | 5 | 13 | .278 | 7 | |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head differential: Barangay Ginebra +16, Rain or Shine −3, Sta. Lucia −13
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Purefoods 2–0 Air21

#### Schedule

| | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 2 |
| Team ╲ Game | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Air21 Express | ROS | TNT | BGK | Coke | SLR | ALA | PF | SMB | ROS | Coke | RBB | SMB | PF | BGK | SLR | RBB | ALA | TNT |
| Alaska Aces | SMB | Coke | RBB | ROS | TNT | A21 | BGK | SLR | PF | SMB | ROS | TNT | SLR | Coke | RBB | BGK | A21 | PF |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | SLR | A21 | RBB | SMB | PF | ALA | ROS | Coke | TNT | PF | SLR | Coke | RBB | A21 | ALA | TNT | SMB | ROS |
| Coca-Cola Tigers | TNT | ALA | PF | A21 | SLR | ROS | RBB | BGK | SMB | A21 | PF | ROS | BGK | ALA | TNT | SMB | SLR | RBB |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | RBB | SMB | Coke | SLR | ROS | BGK | A21 | TNT | ALA | RBB | BGK | Coke | SMB | A21 | ROS | SLR | TNT | ALA |
| Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | A21 | RBB | SMB | ALA | PF | Coke | TNT | BGK | A21 | SLR | ALA | Coke | RBB | SLR | PF | TNT | SMB | BGK |
| Red Bull Barako | PF | ROS | ALA | BGK | SMB | TNT | Coke | SLR | PF | TNT | A21 | ROS | BGK | SMB | ALA | A21 | Coke | SLR |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | BGK | TNT | PF | Coke | A21 | SMB | ALA | RBB | ROS | SMB | BGK | TNT | ALA | ROS | A21 | PF | Coke | RBB |
| San Miguel Beermen | ALA | PF | ROS | TNT | BGK | RBB | SLR | A21 | Coke | ALA | SLR | PF | A21 | TNT | RBB | Coke | ROS | BGK |
| Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | Coke | A21 | SLR | SMB | ALA | RBB | ROS | PF | BGK | RBB | ALA | SLR | SMB | Coke | ROS | PF | BGK | A21 |

#### Bracket

| Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Quarterfinals (best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (best-of-3) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) |
| 7 | Purefoods | 82 | | | | | | | 2 | Talk 'N Text | 4 | |
| 8 | Air21 | 94 | | | | 3 | Ginebra | 1 | 6 | San Miguel | 2 | |
| | | | 8 | Air21 | 86 | 6 | San Miguel | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | San Miguel | 105 | | | | | | | 2 | Talk 'N Text | 4 |
| 6 | San Miguel | 99 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Alaska | 3 |
| 9 | Coca-Cola | 89 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 1 | Alaska | 4 | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| | | | | | | 4 | Rain or Shine | 0 | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 2 | | 6 | San Miguel | 97 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Sta. Lucia (OT) | 99 |
* view
* talk

#### Quarterfinals: (4) Rain or Shine vs (5) Sta. Lucia

* C/S9
* January 7
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* January 9
Sta. Lucia Realtors 92, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 85 :
* Sta. Lucia wins series, 2–0 ||
* Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay
In their first playoff appearance since joining the league in 2006, the Elasto Painters were overwhelmed in Game 1 by the defending champions, who played with the comebacking Ryan Reyes who just came from injury. Fracas involving Rain or Shine's Gabe Norwood and Solomon Mercado at the end of the first game caused Norwood to be suspended in Game 2, and Mercado on Game 3 if it happens. The short-handed Elasto Painters wound up short in Game 2 as they were eliminated.

### Fiesta Conference
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| 1 | San Miguel Beermen | 11 | 3 | .786 | — | Advance to semifinals |
| 2 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3 | Advance to semifinals |
| 3 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3 | Twice-to-beat in the wildcard round |
| 4 | Burger King Whoppers | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3 | Twice-to-beat in the wildcard round |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 7 | 7 | .500 | 4 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 6 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 7 | 7 | .500 | 4 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 7 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 7 | 7 | .500 | 4 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 8 | Coca-Cola Tigers | 6 | 8 | .429 | 5 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 9 | Alaska Aces | 6 | 8 | .429 | 5 | Twice-to-win in the wildcard round |
| 10 | Barako Bull Energy Boosters | 2 | 12 | .143 | 9 | Twice-to-win in the wildcard round |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head differential: Rain or Shine +15, Barangay Ginebra −7, Burger King −8; second seed playoff: Barangay Ginebra 114–71 Rain or Shine
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head differential: Sta. Lucia +7, Purefoods +3, Talk 'N Text −10
* 1 2 Eighth seed playoff: Coca-Cola 81–74 Alaska

#### Results

* Results above and to the left of the gray boxes are first round games; those below and to the right are second round games.
| Team | ALA | BBE | BGK | BKW | COKE | PF | ROS | SMB | SLR | TNT |
| Alaska Aces | | 90–92 | 82–81 | 88–106 | 85–89 | 94–84 | 94–96 | 89–93 | 90–100 | 122–124 |
| Barako Bull Energy Boosters | 90–100 | | 103–111 | 110–123 | 103–106 | 92–96 | 83–93 | 92–99 | 91–100 | 135–132 |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | 75–76 | | | 106–110 | 110–103 | 107–105 | 93–107 | 80–95 | 76–80 | 97–90 |
| Burger King Whoppers | | 99–89 | 94–100 | | 127–109 | 78–82 | 112–118 | 105–114 | 96–84 | 105–118 |
| Coca-Cola Tigers | | 120–106 | 85–122 | | | 89–80 | 94–91* | 91–106 | 88–79 | 111–133 |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 74–80 | | | 86–96 | 92–85 | | 102–94* | 103–122 | 93–91 | 131–121 |
| Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | | 103–97 | 89–94 | | | 110–90 | | 95–102 | 100–109 | 96–102 |
| San Miguel Beermen | 91–84 | | | 105–107* | 89–105 | | 72–82 | | 92–90 | 98–87 |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | | 98–88 | 98–101 | | | 104–95 | 90–82 | 92–98 | | 106–100 |
| Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 115–122* | | | 129–135** | 103–00 | | 116–118* | | 97–91 | |

#### Second seed playoff

* C/S9
* May 24
* 2nd seed
* Ynares Center, Antipolo, Rizal

#### Bracket

| Wildcard phase | Wildcard phase | Wildcard phase | Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Semifinals (Best-of-7) | Semifinals (Best-of-7) | Semifinals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) |
| (#4 twice to beat) | (#4 twice to beat) | (#4 twice to beat) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Burger King | 96 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Burger King | 96 | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 | | | |
| 9 | Alaska | 90 | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 | | | |
| 9 | Alaska | 90 | 4 | Burger King | 2 | 4 | Burger King | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 4 | Burger King | 2 | 4 | Burger King | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia | 94 | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia | 94 | | | | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 |
| 8 | Coca-Cola | 88 | | | | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 |
| 8 | Coca-Cola | 88 | | | | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 3 |
| (#3 twice to beat) | (#3 twice to beat) | (#3 twice to beat) | | | | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 3 |
| 3 | Rain or Shine | 96 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Rain or Shine | 96 | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 4 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| 10 | Barako Bull | 88 | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 4 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| 10 | Barako Bull | 88 | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 6 | Purefoods | 1 | | | | 4 | Burger King | 132 |
| 6 | Purefoods (2OT) | 126 | 6 | Purefoods | 1 | | | | 4 | Burger King | 132 |
| 6 | Purefoods (2OT) | 126 | | | | | | | 3 | Rain or Shine | 118 |
| 7 | Talk 'N Text | 123 | | | | | | | 3 | Rain or Shine | 118 |
* view
* talk

#### Wildcard phase

Note: Rain or Shine and Burger King possessed the twice to beat advantage but it was not used as their opponents failed to win to extend the series into a deciding game.
* C/S9
* May 27
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

#### Quarterfinals: (3) Rain or Shine vs. (6) Purefoods

* C/S9
* May 31
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* June 3
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* June 14
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 93, Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 89 :
* Rain or Shine wins series 2–1 ||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

#### Semifinals: (2) Barangay Ginebra vs (3) Rain or Shine

* C/S9
* June 17
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* June 19
* Recap
* Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay
* C/S9
* June 21
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* June 24
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* June 26
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* June 28
* Recap
Barangay Ginebra Kings 108, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 100 :
* Barangay Ginebra wins series, 4–2 ||
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

#### Third place playoff

* C/S9
* July 1
* Recap
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

## Transactions
### Trades

| 2008 post-draft | To Rain or Shine Sol Mercado, Eddie Laure, future picks | To Alaska Joe Devance |

### Imports recruited

| Player | Debuted | Last game | Record |
| Charles Clark | March 1 | March 7 | 1–1 |
| Jai Lewis | March 12 | July 1 | 13–9 |