MANILA – Converge FiberXers overcame a slow start to defeat Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 130-118, in Game 1 of the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Justin Arana marked his return from an injury with 22 points and eight rebounds to be named Player of the Game as the FiberXers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three quarterfinals series.
“’Yung focus lang talaga namin is manalo sa series na ito, pang limang quarterfinals na namin ito and hindi pa kami nakakalusot sa semifinals kahit isa,” Arana said in a post-game interview.
Cheick Diallo posted a double-double of 35 points and 17 rebounds to lead the FiberXers, Jordan Heading and Deschon Winston added 21 and 17, respectively, while Alec Stockton and Justine Baltazar contributed 12 markers apiece.
Down by as many as 17 points in the opening quarter, the FiberXers slowly clawed their way back in the second frame behind Heading, Winston, and Arana to take a 64-62 lead at the half.
The game was still tight for both teams in the third quarter before the FiberXers pulled away in the fourth quarter behind inside conversions from Diallo, Arana, and Baltazar to stretch the lead to 17 points at 127-110.
“This is a series, this win is nothing if we cannot close out the series,” said FiberXers interim head coach Franco Atienza after the game. “Medyo flat na naman ‘yung start namin and that is something that we need to solve.”
“Our opponent unloaded many three-pointers early in the game, our guys is nandun naman but we need to do more, kung pumapasok ‘yung tira nila, we have to adjust,” he added.
Caelan Tiongson top-scored for the Painters with 23 points, Anton Asistio, Deon Thompson, and Adrian Nocum added 14 markers apiece, while Keith Datu and Jhonard Clarito contributed 12 and 10, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
CONVERGE 130 – Diallo 35, Arana 22, Heading 21, Winston 17, Stockton 13, Baltazar 13, Delos Santos 4, Santos 3, Racal 2, Ambohot 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 118 – Tiongson 23, Asistio 14, Nocum 14, Thompson 14, Datu 12, Clarito 10, Ildefonso 9, Caracut 8, Lemetti 6, Belga 5, Santillan 3.
Quarterscores: 26-39, 64-62, 99-96, 130-118.
