Romwel Anzures

Rain or Shine’s Jhonard Clarito vs. NLEX in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup playoffs. Photo from PBA Images.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750251449170IMG_7197.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Rain or Shine’s Jhonard Clarito vs. NLEX in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup playoffs. Photo from PBA Images."/>Rain or Shine’s Jhonard Clarito vs. NLEX in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup playoffs. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — Jhonard Clarito played bigger than his height just when the Rain or Shine ElastoPainters needed him most. The 6-foot-2 forward posted a 20-point, 21-rebound game to keep the seventh-seeded E-Painters alive in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Quarterfinals as they took down the NLEX Road Warriors, 92-89, in Game 1. The 2024 Most Improved Player even put up a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double in the fourth period to help RoS avoid meltdown as they saw their 16-point advantage disappear, and this allowed them to force a do-or-die match on Saturday. “Si Jhonard, nakita natin effort niya, buwis buhay talaga, and any coach would appreciate the effort that he put up,” commended E-Painters head coach Yeng Guiao after their close encounter vs. NLEX.   “Not just him, but each of the guys,” he added. What’s at stake for Rain or Shine is a chance to enter the semifinals for the fourth straight conference. Ever since the 2023-20 All-Filipino conference (Season 48), RoS has managed to take a step closer in its bid to return to the Finals for the first time since the 2015-16 season, which is why Clarito made sure that their streak would extend. “Dinaan lang namin sa sipag, box out, at rebound,” said the 29-year-old, 6-foot-2 forward. “Sabi ni Coach Yeng, walang matatalo sa depensa, so kailangan na buwis buhay talaga.” To magnify these, Clarito grabbed six offensive boards in the fourth period while also almost outscoring NLEX in that same span, 14-16. “Pero, hindi pa rin kami kampante,” commented Clarito despite gaining momentum from their elimination game win. Guiao also wants his team to embrace the pressure now that things are even between both teams, and the No.7 E-Painters will look to complete the upset over the second-seeded Road Warriors when they meet again on Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila. “Nakakapagod yung parati ka na lang do-or-die, at some point, you will die, so kung kaya, sana maiwasan namin,” said Coach Yeng. “But his is the way, and now, we look at it as we’re one win away from another semifinals. Yun ang perspective namin ngayon.” Game 2 tips off at 7:30 p.m. RELATED VIDEO: <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M3jOJNnK_Xs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Jhonard Clarito played bigger than his height just when the Rain or Shine ElastoPainters needed him most.

Jhonard Clarito played bigger than his height just when the Rain or Shine ElastoPainters needed him most.

With RoS’ conference life on the line, ‘Buwis Buhay’ Clarito rises to the occasion

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With RoS’ conference life on the line, ‘Buwis Buhay’ Clarito rises to the occasion

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 18, 2025 09:43 PM PHT

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Jhonard Clarito

PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup

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