The Converge Rain or Shine quarterfinal series now favors the FiberXers, who rode a dominant second half to a 105-89 win at Dasmariñas Arena and took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five PBA Governors' Cup.
Converge dropped the opener 120-124 but has won twice since, including a 130-125 decision in Game 2. The FiberXers can close out the Elasto Painters in Game 4 on Friday and reach the semifinals for the first time in franchise history.
Converge Rain or Shine Game 3 breakdown
Converge outscored Rain or Shine 53-36 after the restart to turn a tight contest into a comfortable margin. In the fourth quarter the FiberXers went on a 23-14 run while holding the Elasto Painters to 5-of-20 shooting from the field.
Juan Gomez de Liaño led Converge with 19 points, 15 of them in the second half, and added 13 rebounds and five assists. Cameron Clark contributed 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, Justine Baltazar had 15 points and six rebounds, and Jhonnel Policarpio added 13 points and seven rebounds.
Policarpio also shared defensive duties with Alec Stockton on Rain or Shine gunner Adrian Nocum. Calvin Abueva was among those cited for Converge's work on both ends in front of a packed Dasmariñas Arena crowd.
Adrian Nocum's triple-double falls short for Rain or Shine
Nocum finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Felix Lemetti led the Elasto Painters with 18 points, including three triples, while Caelan Tiongson scored 16, all from beyond the three-point arc.
Game 4 and the semifinal picture
Converge coach Delta Pineda said his team expects a stronger response from Rain or Shine with the series on the line. The winner of the series will meet NLEX in the semifinals.
"Hindi pa po tapos ang laban, We expect more from Rain or Shine on the next game."
San Miguel Beer stays alive against Barangay Ginebra
In the other quarterfinal tie reported, San Miguel Beer survived a 101-98 game against sweep-seeking Barangay Ginebra. The Beermen blew a 15-point lead but recovered to cut the Gin Kings' series advantage to 2-1.
Analysis: what each side takes into Game 4
Converge's case rests on two straight wins and a spread-out offense that produced four double-figure scorers in Game 3. Rain or Shine's case rests on its Game 1 win and a triple-double from Nocum, though his scoreless fourth quarter and the team's 5-of-20 shooting in the payoff period are the clearest reasons the series tilted.
Neither pattern is proof of what happens next in a best-of-five. Rain or Shine has already shown it can win in this series, and Converge has yet to close out a semifinal berth in franchise history.
The original report appeared on philstar.com.
