FiberXers equalize PBA quarters series vs Painters

MANILA, Philippines -- The Converge FiberXers put themselves on the board in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals after taking Game 2 against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 130-125, Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

Converge tied the best-of-five quarterfinal series at one game apiece. 

Cameron Clark paced the eight FiberXers in double digits with 22 points, three rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Juan Gomez-de Liano flirted with a triple-double with 20 markers, eight dimes and seven boards. 

Rain or Shine trailed by 14, 56-70, at the half, but the Elasto Painters nipped the lead away brick by brick. 

The game was tied at 120-all with 3:15 left following a triple by Adrian Nocum.

A pair of free throws by Clark, followed by an Alec Stockton deuce off a shot clock turnover by Rain or Shine, pushed Converge to a 124-120 lead with 2:08 remaining. 

But Luis Villegas answered with a trey to inch closer, 123-124. 

After stops by both teams, Mikey Williams launched a trey with 35.2 seconds to go to give the FiberXers a 127-123 edge. 

On the other end, Clark stole the ball, leading to Calvin Abueva freebies, 129-123. 

In the next possession, Deo Cuajao was fouled on the 4-point attempt. He, however, missed the first two free throws before making the next two, keeping it a four-point deficit, 125-129, with about 26 seconds remaining. 

A split from the line by Stockton iced the game. 

Stockton and Justine Baltazar had 18 points each. The former had five assists, three steals and a block, while the latter had 11 boards. 

Abueva, Justine Arana, Jaydee Tungcab and Williams registered 13, 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench. 

Aaron Fuller had a double-double with 26 points, 15 rebounds and an assist for the Elasto Painters. Jhonard Clarito and Nocum finished with 22 points apiece. 

Nocum also had a career-high 18 assists, an all-time Rain or Shine franchise record, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III. It is also the most in the PBA since MIke Cortez’s 18 dimes in the 2012 Philippine Cup. 

Caelan Tiongson tallied 17 points, while Cuajao and Villegas had 10 each. 

Game 3 is on Tuesday, 5:15 p.m., at the City of Dasmarinas Arena in Cavite.