Converge storms back from eight down, moves on brink of first PBA semis

Converge moved a win away from advancing to the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup semifinals following a 105-89 rout of Rain or Shine in Game 3 of their quarters series at the City of Dasmarinas Arena in Cavite, Tuesday night.

The FiberXers took the lead for good late in the third quarter after staring at a 64-56 deficit, before running away wide in the deciding period en route to winning their second straight game to build a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 battle.

Coach Delta Pineda and his charges could close it out in Game 4 this Friday, November 6, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, which if they do would bring the young franchise to its very first appearance in the ‘Final Four.’

Converge did it by committee again to get ahead, with Juan Gomez de Liano leading the way with 19 points alongside 13 rebounds and six assists.

The lefty star had a hand in the third-quarter turnaround, helping out in the 12-0 run that was sparked by Alec Stockton to erase the aforementioned eight-point lead of the Elasto Painters and turn it to a 68-64 lead with 5:31 on the clock.

He’d go on to help keep themselves ahead the rest of the way, highlighted by a fadeaway jumper against the bigger Aaron Fuller to push their lead to 101-81 with 3:54 left to play before pulling off the ‘Night, Night’ celebration.

Cam Clark finished with 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Justine Baltazar made 15 points and six boards. Jonnel Policarpio made 13 points, all of which he made in the first half, on top of seven rebounds and three steals.

Calvin Abueva scored 13 as well and collected 10 rebounds, while Justin Arana fell just short of notching a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.

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