Converge finishes off Rain or Shine, enters first-ever semis

Converge finished off Rain or Shine, 120-109, in Game 4 of the best-of-five quarterfinals for a breakthrough semifinals appearance in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mikey Williams drilled crucial back-to-back three-pointers late with over three minutes left in the fourth quarter to push the FiberXers’ lead back to eight after the Elasto Painters got to within two.

The guard’s consecutive baskets effectively broke the spirit of Rain or Shine as Converge reached the Final Four for the first time since joining the league in 2022 after acquiring the Alaska franchise.

“Puso. In the crucial situation, they didn’t give up. Even after we took the lead and they (Rain or Shine) tried to come back, they stayed focused on the game plan. They didn’t give up,” FiberXers head coach Delta Pineda said.

Import Cameron Clark finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and four steals in an efficient all-around outing for the FiberXers.

Williams had 17 markers on 6-of-15 field goal shooting, including four triples, and pulled down seven boards while Justin Arana and Alec Stockton had 16 and 14 points, respectively, for Converge. Juan Gomez De Liano chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds while Calvin Abueva scored 11 before his ejection late in the third quarter following back-to-back technical fouls (flopping).

Converge will face NLEX in the best-of-five semifinals starting 4 December.

Two free throws by Adrian Nocum cut the FiberXers’ lead to 109-107 with 3:23 left. Williams countered with consecutive triples for a 115-107 advantage with 2:42 left.

Converge kept its distance the rest of the way to close the series with three straight wins.

Aaron Fuller had 23 points and 10 boards, Jhonard Clarito got 18 markers while Caelan Tiongson scored 14 for Rain or Shine.