BY NOLI CORTEZ

DUE mainly to their import dubbed the "Incredible Bulk," Rain or Shine has turned into a legitimate contender in the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference.

For its part, Sta. Lucia Realty has ridden the back of a rejuvenated pillar and is steadily re-discovering the fiery form that powered the team to victory in last year’s Philippine Cup.

That explains why everybody expects an exciting match today when the Elasto Painters and Realtors collide at the Astrodome.

Should Rain or Shine rack up a fifth straight win that will jack its win-loss record to 6-1, the Painters will hold on to second behind unscathed San Miguel Beer (6-0). Sta. Lucia (4-2) is out to forge a tie for second with Rain or Shine.

To achieve their respective goals, each team must hurdle the bar that has been set high by their main frontliners.

Rain or Shine’s 290-pound behemoth in Jai Lewis is the big man the Asian Coatings franchise has been praying for, and he has gamely responded by leading the Painters to their best start since joining the league prior to the 2006-07 season.

"We know that Rain or Shine is a team that needs a big man and with Lewis they are now a team to contend with," said Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez.

Lewis is coming fresh from a 40-point, 23-rebound performance in a 118-112 victory over Burger King last Wednesday. The triumph made Lewis 4-for-4 since he replaced Charles Clark III and is expected to extend the Elasto Painters’ franchise-best winning streak to four.

Consistently providing help are the likes of JR Reyes, Sol Mercado, Ryan Arana and Don Dulay.

"Sta. Lucia is also a very good team, with a very good import," noted Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia. "But as long as we keep on playing this way, the other teams are gonna have a hard time matching up with us."

Sta. Lucia has its own center to boast of in Marlou Aquino, who has ably held the fort while team captain Dennis Espino tries to fully recover from an injury.

In a 100-90 win over Alaska last Sunday, the 36-year-old Aquino scored 18 points and also had four rebounds, as many assists and lived up to his status as the tournament’s best shot blocker with three swats.

With Aquino holding his own inside, import Anthony Johnson is able to do his things, scoring and sneaking in his rangy frame for the rebounds. He had 40 and 13 against the Aces.

Likewise efficient, but more quite-like, are the backup roles of Kelly Williams, Dennis Miranda, Joseph Yeo and Norman Gonzales.

It is not in offense Fernandez is more concerned with, however.

"Again, our team defense will still be our main weapon against Rain or Shine," he said, harking back to how his team held Alaska scoreless in the last 3:24 of their match.

"We also have to match their intensity and stop their running game if we want to win."

Defense also gnaws at Garcia, who heaved the biggest sigh of relief after Lewis bailed them out of a 24-turnover game against Burger King.

The other game pits teams with fresh bitter memories.

The Aces go up against the Talk N Text Tropang Texters, who are coming off a 133-135 shocker of a loss to lowly Barako Bull also last Sunday.

In that game, the Texters blew a 24-point lead in the last nine minutes of the game and that still rankles at coach Chot Reyes.