NLEX, Converge in duel for history

MANILA, Philippines — It’s all set for one side of the draw in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup semifinals and it pits two hungry squads bent on making history – NLEX and Converge.

The Road Warriors, on a hot run under coach Jimmy Alapag, hope third time’s the charm as they seek to finally get beyond the Final Four and set a first Last Dance appearance since joining the league in Season 40.

Breaking the quarterfinal barrier at last after seven futile attempts, the FiberXers look to make their maiden semis stint since their PBA debut in Season 47 count and get a crack at a breakthrough crown.

The NLEX-Converge tussle, a race-to-three affair, will blast off Dec. 4 when the league resumes after a three-week break to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Malaysia.

“It’s a blessing to be in the semis but we’re not done so we’ll continue to work, find ways to improve and get ready for the next round,” said Alapag, who’s on track for a Cinderella finish in his first conference at the helm.

Robert Bolick-led NLEX advanced via a 3-0 sweep of Phoenix.

“As a I told the guys, they have earned the right to do something special and do something great that this organization hasn’t done in its history. The first part of the goal is complete – we got to December (semis) – and now there’s a second part, let’s go get it,” said Alapag.

The FiberXers sealed their first-ever semis entry with three straight wins against Rain or Shine, including Friday’s 120-109 clincher, coming off a 0-1 deficit.

“We fought through adversity. We kept the faith and we just kept going from there. So now that we’re here, we’re not going to slow down,” said Converge ace Juan Gomez de Liaño.

“I think NLEX is going to be a very great matchup for us and like I said, we’re very hungry and more eager to go to the finals.”

The other side of the F4 is still incomplete with defending champion TNT waiting for San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra to settle their quarterfinal dispute, which is deadlocked after four games.

The Beermen and the Gin Kings will fight over the semis ticket one last time on Tuesday.