The Converge FiberXers held off the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 130-125, in Game 2 of their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals series on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The win evens their showdown at one game apiece after a pair of pulsating games.
What Happened?
Like in Game 1, Converge showcased its talent and offensive might early, with Juan Gomez de Liaño starting out hot and staking the FiberXers to a 37-30 lead after one. Cameron Clark, Mikey Williams, and Alec Stockton continued to show off the heavy artillery, leading Converge to a 33-26 second quarter to enter halftime up, 70-56.
Back-to-back triples from Deo Cuajao to start the third quarter called to mind Rain or Shine’s furious fightback in Game 1, but the FiberXers were ready, doing just enough to stay in front. But the Elasto Painters kept fighting and fighting nonetheless and crawled to within two, 95-93, entering the final frame.
The fourth quarter was a tight one, with six ties, the last one on an Adrian Nocum triple with 3:15 remaining, and nine lead changes, with the final one on two JGDL free throws with just under 3 minutes left. The Elasto Painters just wouldn’t give up, though, as Luis Villegas made it 124-123 on a booming triple with 1:52 remaining. The two teams then traded consecutive possessions until Williams, isolated at the top of the key against Caelan Tiongson, buried a straightaway pull-up triple to all but seal the game.
Who Stood Out?
The stars showed out in Game 2. Gomez de Liaño led Converge with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, while import Cameron Clark finished with 22 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Calvin Abueva, Jaydee Tungcab, and Mikey Williams sparked the FiberXers off the bench, finishing with 16, 11, and 10, respectively, while Justin Arana bucked a sprained ankle in the third to provide much-needed paint points early in the fourth.
Rain or Shine got star performances all around, too, with Adrian Nocum coming off the bench to score 22 points and issue a career-high 18 dimes. Import Aaron Fuller led the way with 28 points and 15 rebounds, while Jhonard Clarito chipped in 22 points and 6 boards. Tiongson added 17 markers, 6 caroms, and 4 dimes.
3 Keys to the Game
- Poise. Unlike in Game 1, Converge didn’t capitulate when Rain or Shine cooked up a third-quarter storm. Instead, the FiberXers kept fending off the Elasto Painters with timely baskets and stops. Even when Fuller and company did get the lead eventually in the fourth, JGDL and the crew still found ways to score and make stops, notably the three straight turnovers they forced on Nocum in the last 3 minutes.
- Turnovers. It’s not just Converge winning the turnover battle, 15-9, that mattered. What mattered more was when the FiberXers forced four of those miscues in the final 3 minutes, with three due to pressure on Nocum, who had committed only a solitary turnover up to that point.
- Free-throw shooting. Both teams got to the line a lot, with Rain or Shine attempting 40 times and Converge shooting 30. The FiberXers converted 26 of their freebies and missed only four, while the Elasto Painters went 31-for-40. Crucially, Converge held steady in the endgame, making eight of its final nine free throws.
Next Up for the PBA: Quarterfinals
Saturday, October 31, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
NLEX Road Warriors vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters (5:15 p.m.)
TNT Tropang 5G vs. Magnolia Hotshots (7:30 p.m.)
