Games today:
(Cuneta Astrodome)
5 p.m.- Red Bull vs. Rain or Shine
7:30 p.m.- San Miguel vs Purefoods

The Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters gun for a good follow-up to their impressive start as they shoot for their second straight win against the Red Bull Barakos today in the 34th PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Rain Or Shine proved that it is ready to erase the doormat reputation it has been carrying since joining the league two years ago when it started the conference with a big win against the Air21 Express.

Fil-Am rookie Solomon Mercado was at the the forefront of that huge victory as he led the Elasto Painters to a smashing 120-102 win over the Express.

Mercado, drafted fifth overall by Alaska but acquired by Rain or Shine in the Joe Devance-deal, erupted for a game-high 29 points, the most by any rookie since Asi Taulava scored 32 markers in his debut with his former team Talk ?N Text in 1999.

Eddie Laure, who was involved in the Alaska deal, also had a big contribution for the Elasto Painters as he chipped in 20 points.

That win marked Rain Or Shine's first victory in an opening assignment.

Red Bull is one of the two teams that Rain Or Shine has yet to beat, the other being Alaska.

Aside from trying to keep their dominance over the Elasto Painters, the Barakos are also out to bounce back from a sorry 73-77 loss to the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants last Wednesday.

Purefoods will also shoot for their second straight victory when it collides with sister-team San Miguel in the main game.

The Beermen started their campaign on a sour note, wasting a 19-point lead in their 84-85 defeat at the hands of the Aces.