PAUL LEE and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters undergo their first acid test when they face defending champion Talk ’N Text in the 2011 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rain or Shine is currently tied on top of the standings with Petron Blaze with a 2-0 win-loss record, but just how real Lee and company are would be known when they take on the Tropang Texters in the 5:15 p.m. encounter.

“This would be our biggest test so far,” said Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao, whose team is coming off victories over Barangay Ginebra (94-93) and Powerade (96-93).

“But I feel good about our chances. The team is gaining confidence and that’s what we really need to give them a good fight,” he added.

Lee, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, is the reason Rain or Shine has been dominating the early stages of the all-Filipino tournament. The 21-year-old wily guard out of University of the East (UE) has been averaging 20 points and 6.5 assists per game and despite being a rookie, has shown leadership on the court.

Even Talk ’N Text head coach Chot Reyes is impressed with the performance of the six-foot-one Lee.

“This will be a tough match for us. Rain or Shine is a balanced, seasoned team playing with a lot of confidence sparked by so far the league’s best rookie [Lee],” said Reyes, who will continue to miss the services of Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo.

Williams and Alapag are expected to be back from vacation next week while de Ocampo is still recuperating from a nose injury and won’t be available soon enough for Talk ’N Text, which won its season-opening game against sister team Meralco, 98-80, last week at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Fans are also anticipating how the battle from the bench would turn out. It could be recalled that Guiao and Reyes had a shouting match during a physical preseason tune-up game.

But it seemed neither coach would admit to their personal war, with Guiao preferring to concentrate on who he will match up with Talk ’N Text’s scorers.

“I hope we prepared enough to contain their dribble penetration and transition game,” said Guiao, who will be facing his former ward, Japeth Aguilar, for the first time since his former team, Burger King (now Barako Bull), picked the six-foot-nine forward as No. 1 in the 2009 draft.

In the 7:30 p.m. game, Ginebra eyes its second win in three outings when it takes on Barako Bull.

The Kings beat the Alaska Aces, 83-72, after dropping a heartbreaker to the Elasto Painters.

Ginebra co-head coach Siot Tanquingcen said the Kings have to play as a solid unit to compete against the strong teams in the tournament.

“Our offense must come from everybody. Other players must start stepping up. We need [support from] guys coming off the bench,” said Tanquingcen.

The Energy of coach Junel Baculi dropped their opening game to the Boosters, 83-95, where Willie Miller was held to just eight points on two-of-eight shooting.

Earning admiration in his rookie year in that Barako loss was Allain Maliksi, the No. 8 draft pick who netted 15 points. Maliksi was No. 8 overall pick in the draft. Dylan Ababou, the 10th pick this season, was not fielded against Petron.