Rain or Shine rookie Caelan Tiongson during Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against TNT.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Rain or Shine rookie Caelan Tiongson has had enough of losing to TNT in the PBA semifinals.
On Sunday, Tiongson and the Elasto Painters were eliminated in the semis by the Tropang 5G for the third straight time.
READ: PBA: Andrei Caracut shrugs off late scuffle in Game 6 loss to TNT
With the Rain or Shine loss, Caelan Tiongson officially caps off his PBA rookie year. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/pTkpPr4VQl
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) July 6, 2025
“Man, I’m sick of TNT, I won’t lie. I’m sick of seeing those jerseys,” Tiongson told the Inquirer after Rain or Shine’s 97-89 loss in Game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.
“I like the guys on that team. Congratulations to them, a lot of my friends are over there but I’m sick of TNT.”
TNT has proven to be a tough nut to crack for Rain or Shine this season. The Tropang 5G also sent the Painters packing in the Governors’ Cup semifinals in five games. Rain or Shine then suffered the same fate in the Commissioner’s Cup.
READ: PBA: TNT ousts Rain or Shine, returns to finals with Grand Slam hopes
Tiongson hopes to use all the losses to improve for the upcoming season.
“We’re going to learn lessons from these hard losses,” said the versatile bruiser, who went down swinging with 30 points in the loss.
“We’ll go home, be a little bit healthier and a little bit better and we’ll give it another crack but I think we’re encouraged.”
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