It was four straight semifinal appearances for Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, which helped them paint their place among the PBA's most consistent contenders anew.
But in the Season 50 Philippine Cup, that momentum stalled -- with a quarterfinal exit at the hands of Meralco Bolts.
And in the aftermath, the conversation has naturally shifted. For all their depth and system continuity, Rain or Shine still faces a familiar question: who takes charge when it matters most?
That's where Adrian Nocum enters the picture.
The explosive slashing guard has steadily evolved from an energy piece into a legitimate offensive weapon, flashing the kind of upside that demands a bigger role.
Now, with another great start in the Commissioner's Cup with a 4-0 record, the next step is clear -- can Nocum transition from a promising spark to the reliable centerpiece Rain or Shine needs to finally break through?
Let's assess what he already possesses, what he needs to work on more, and what could be added to fully make him realize his superstar potential.
Nocum's downhill drives are lethal
From the onset of his PBA career, it's obvious that Nocum's best attribute is his athleticism and ability to get to the paint at will.
The eye test backs it up with the highlight plays, but it goes deeper than that with the constant rim pressure he applies once he gets a step on his defender.
When the 26-year old guard turns the corner cleanly, very few perimeter defenders can stay attached, and even bigs are often put in compromised positions trying to meet him at the rim, evidenced by his acrobatic finish over Bol Bol early in the conference.
The biggest difference in this conference, though, is his decision-making as a driver.
Nocum has shown a much better feel for when to attack and when to pull it back, picking his spots instead of forcing drives into traffic.
That added layer of control has made his downhill game more efficient and more sustainable with an average of 17 points per game in the first four games in the Commissioner's Cup -- turning what was once pure explosiveness into a more polished, dependable weapon for Rain or Shine.
Converting those paint touches to playmaking
While Nocum has clearly sharpened his reads on those drives, the raw assist numbers haven't quite followed, holding steady at 2.8 per game from the Philippine Cup to this conference.
A deeper look shows a slight dip as well, with his assist percentage sliding to 16.9% from 20.9% previously.
That's where the next layer of his growth becomes critical.
With how often Nocum is able to get two feet in the paint, he naturally bends the defense and those situations are prime opportunities to create high-value looks. For Rain or Shine, maximizing those paint touches isn't just about finishing; it's about turning defensive collapses into efficient offense -- especially in the half court.
The encouraging sign is that the reads are getting there. He's showing better recognition of help defenders and timing, even if it hasn't fully translated into box score production yet.
That's why this is something worth closely tracking because if, those decisions continue to trend upward and eventually reflect in his assist metrics, it adds another dimension to his game and raises the ceiling of the entire offense -- as Rain or Shine currently owns the best offensive rating in the conference at 117.3 points per 100 possessions.
Nocum's efficiency in the perimeter needs to get better
The next step for the first-time All-Star to truly make the leap into a bona fide superstar lies in his outside shooting.
In the previous conference, Nocum shot just 21.6% from beyond the arc on 3.9 attempts per game, and in this conference, albeit on a small sample size, that has dipped further to 15.4% on 3.3 attempts. Overall, his true shooting percentage sits at 45.7, a number that reflects the limitations of his current scoring profile.
And it's not necessarily about becoming an elite shooter overnight. What Nocum needs is a reliable, respectable jumper -- one that defenses simply cannot ignore.
Right now, defenders can afford to go under screens or sag off, loading up on his drives and shrinking the floor. As Rain or Shine averages the most triples attempted at 37.8 per game, even a decent level of perimeter efficiency would force tighter closeouts, opening up cleaner driving lanes and making his downhill game even more dangerous
The encouraging part is that this is a skill that can develop over time.
The foundation of his offensive game is already strong; adding a serviceable jumper would complete the picture.
If he reaches that threshold where defenses are compelled to honor him from the outside, it fundamentally changes how he's guarded and in turn elevates both his efficiency and Rain or Shine's overall offensive ceiling.
