Following the impressive run of the now-defunct Bay Area Dragons in the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner's Cup, the league introduced a fresh guest team with the entry of Hong Kong Eastern.

Rain or Shine dealt shorthanded Hong Kong Eastern its first taste of defeat in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on the debut night of import Deon Thompson after pulling away for a 99-81 win Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

RAIN or Shine dealt guest team Eastern its first loss, 99-81, on Wednesday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Deon Thompson had a double-double in his PBA debut as the Elasto Painters claimed their first win after their 10-point defeat to Meralco in their conference opener last Sunday.

Rain or Shine welcomed import Deon Thompson's debut with a 99-81 shellacking of foreign squad Hong Kong Eastern in the main game of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Down goes Hong Kong Eastern. The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters trounced Hong Kong Eastern, 99-81, in wire-to-wire fashion in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup action Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.