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.^[1] 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.^[2][3][4]

The team reached the semifinals for the first time in franchise history in 2009 Fiesta Conference, but lost to Ginebra.^[5][6]

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

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

2008–09 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 1 Tang, Tyrone 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 135 lb (61 kg) De La Salle C 4 Andaya, Mark 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Letran G 3 Mercado, Solomon 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Biola F 5 Wainwright, Rob 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Solano CC G/F 6 Ibañes, Jireh 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 182 lb (83 kg) UP Diliman F/C 8 Reyes, Jay-R 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) UP Diliman G 9 Ejercito, Gherome 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Adamson G/F 10 Norwood, Gabe 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) George Mason G 11 Dulay, Don 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) El Camino G 14 Arellano, Marcy 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 188 lb (85 kg) UE G 18 Araña, Ryan 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) De La Salle G 44 Lopez, Denver 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 179 lb (81 kg) Cal State Fullerton F 65 Laure, Eddie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Adamson

Head coach Caloy Garcia (St. Benilde) Assistant coach(es) Richard del Rosario (De La Salle) Alex Compton Mike Buendia Jay Legacion Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

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.

• Results above and to the left of the gray boxes are first round games; those below and to the right are second round games.

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.

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