PBA: Converge pulls away late for 2-1 lead over Rain or Shine

Converge FiberXers guard Juan Gomez de Liaño against Rain or Shine ElastoPainters playmaker Adrian Nocum in Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup Quarterfinals. PBA Images.MANILA — The Converge FiberXers leaned on their fourth-quarter surge to dump the Rain or Shine ElastoPainters, 105-89, in Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup Quarterfinals on Tuesday at the City of Dasmariñas Arena.

Juan Gomez de Liaño scattered 15 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists as Converge inched closer to a spot in the semifinals after building a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five affair.

“The big adjustment for us on this game was on defense, and kind of it showed. Some players stepped up, but we were able to limit their import,” said Gomez de Liaño, as they limited RoS’ Aaron Fuller to four points on 2-of-11 shooting.

Cameron Clark led Converge with 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Justine Baltazar had 15 points and six rebounds. Calvin Abueva and Jonnel Policarpio added 13 points each.

The FiberXers can close out the series on Friday, November 6, at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

There, they will hope to replicate their strong start to the fourth canto that secured them the victory.

With the game still within seven points, Converge zoomed to a 97-81 lead following a Gomez de Liaño three-pointer at the 5:10 mark of the fourth quarter.

Baltazar and Gomez de Liaño then combined for four more straight points to push the FiberXers’ lead to its largest at 20 points, 101-81, and that proved enough to seal the victory.

It was a close encounter throughout the first three quarters, with Felix Lemetti firing 18 points on three triples and Caelan Tiongson adding 16 points built on four three-pointers, but these were not enough as the ElastoPainters moved to the brink of elimination.

Adrian Nocum impressed with an 11-point, 11-rebound, and 11-assist triple-double but committed seven turnovers, while Deo Cuajao’s 16 points also went for naught.

Converge 105 — Gomez de Liano 19, Clark 18, Baltazar 15, Policarpio 13, Abueva 13, Arana 9, Stockton 7, Williams 5, Tungcab 4, Garcia 2, Concepcion 0, Santos 0

Rain or Shine 89 — Lemetti 18, Tiongson 16, Cuajao 16, Nocum 11, Malonzo 10, Clarito 5, Villegas 5, Fuller 4, Caracut 2, Manaytay 2

Quarterscores: 32-32, 52-53,82-75, 105-89.