MANILA – Converge FiberXers reached a historic milestone in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup, advancing to the semifinals for the first time in franchise history after eliminating Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 120-109, in Game 4 of their quarterfinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Mikey Williams delivered the knockout punches, sinking back-to-back three-pointers down the stretch to extinguish Rain or Shine’s comeback hopes and seal Converge’s 3-1 victory in the best-of-five series.
With the FiberXers protecting a precarious 109-105 lead, Williams struck from beyond the arc twice, stretching their advantage to 115-107 and putting the game beyond the Elasto Painters’ reach.
Williams finished with 17 points as Converge booked a semifinal showdown with the NLEX Road Warriors next month.
Import Cameron Clark spearheaded the historic victory with a dominant double-double of 32 points and 12 rebounds, while Justin Arana provided 16 markers.
Alec Stockton contributed 14 points, Juan Gomez de Liaño added 13, and Calvin Abueva chipped in 11 before being ejected in the third quarter.
Rain or Shine, meanwhile, saw its campaign come to an end despite a balanced offensive effort led by import Aaron Fuller’s 23 points.
Jhonard Clarito scored 18 points, Caelan Tiongson added 14, while Mike Malonzo and Felix Pangilinan-Lemetti contributed 13 apiece. Luis Villegas finished with 11 and Adrian Nocum had 10.
SAN MIGUEL FORCES DECIDING GAME
Meanwhile, San Miguel Beermen kept their championship aspirations alive with a stirring second-half comeback, erasing a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, 108-102, and force a winner-take-all Game 5.
Veteran guard Chris Ross sparked the Beermen’s resurgence, delivering 20 points, nine assists, six rebounds and five steals to earn Player of the Game honors.
Import George King anchored San Miguel’s offense with a massive double-double of 35 points and 15 rebounds, while Jaymar Perez added 14 points and Celedonio Trollano contributed 11.
The victory enabled the Beermen to level the best-of-five quarterfinal series at 2-2 after overcoming Ginebra’s strong first-half performance.
Earl Scottie Thompson led the Kings with 27 points, while import Jordan Murphy registered 16 points and 21 rebounds.
Jeth Troy Rosario contributed 15 points, George Isaac Go added 13, and Ralph Cu finished with 11 for Ginebra, which squandered its opportunity to close out the series.
The two teams will now battle for the remaining semifinal berth in their deciding Game 5./PN
