Converge Game 3 win is the short version of Tuesday night at the City of Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite, where the FiberXers wiped out an eight-point third-quarter deficit and routed Rain or Shine, 105-89, to grab a 2-1 lead in their PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup best-of-five quarterfinal series.
Converge trailed 64-56 before a 12-0 run sparked by Alec Stockton turned the game into a 68-64 lead with 5:31 left in the third. The FiberXers never surrendered the advantage again and broke it wide open in the fourth. The quarter scores read 32-32, 52-53, 82-75, 105-89.
Inside the Converge Game 3 win
Juan Gomez de Liano led the committee effort with 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. The lefty guard was in the middle of the third-quarter swing, then sealed the mood with a fadeaway jumper over the bigger Aaron Fuller that made it 101-81 with 3:54 remaining, followed by a 'Night, Night' celebration.
The support was spread thin across the rotation: Cam Clark added 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, Justine Baltazar had 15 points and six boards, and Jonnel Policarpio poured in all 13 of his points in the first half to go with seven rebounds and three steals. Calvin Abueva finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Justin Arana came close to a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.
Pineda was not buying the margin. "Hindi po, maybe we just got lucky. Nakuha lang po sa dasal," he said, adding that Rain or Shine's outside shooting simply didn't fall: 12-of-40 from three for the Elasto Painters.
"So, we still need to prepare. Hindi pa po tapos ang laban. Expect more from Rain or Shine in the next game."
Translation: "We still need to prepare. The game is not over yet. Expect more from Rain or Shine in the next game."
Rain or Shine's shooting and Nocum's triple-double
Felix Lemetti paced Rain or Shine with 18 points, with Caelan Tiongson and rookie Deo Cuajao adding 16 apiece. Import Aaron Fuller was held to four points on 2-of-11 shooting, though he did pull down 13 rebounds.
Adrian Nocum recorded his first career triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, but he also committed seven turnovers — and the milestone came in a losing effort that leaves the Elasto Painters needing to win twice in a row under coach Yeng Guiao.
What's next after the Converge Game 3 win
Converge can close the series out in Game 4 on Friday, November 6, 7:30 p.m. at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. A win there would send the young franchise to its first-ever semifinal appearance.
Original report: tiebreakertimes.com.ph.
