PBA: Converge moves a win away from booting out Rain or Shine

The Converge FiberXers moved to the brink of a PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal berth after turning back the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 105-89, in Game 3 of the ongoing quarterfinal playoffs on Nov. 3, 2026, at the City of Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite.

Fresh off a grueling 130-125 escape in Game 2 to tie the series, Converge delivered another statement win in Game 3 after coming back from an eight-point deficit to take control of the second half.

Rain or Shine looked comfortable after testing Converge’s frontcourt rotation with unpredictable pick-and-roll plays, specifically switching the point of attack from the top of the key to the elbows.

As a result, Converge had to send help from its rotating defender on the baseline, but that adjustment favored Rain or Shine by freeing its shooters in both corners.

Rain or Shine’s consistent offensive execution helped it build a 64-56 lead at halftime, but the FiberXers devised an efficient counter that clogged the Elasto Painters’ paint midway through the third quarter.

The one-two punch of Cameron Clark and Justine Baltazar played crucial roles during Converge’s third-quarter resurgence, anchoring the FiberXers’ shaded lane by preventing Rain or Shine’s import, Aaron Fuller, from establishing his footing at the top of the key.

Fuller’s containment caused Rain or Shine’s offense to stagnate, leaving guards Felix Lemetti and Adrian Nocum to attempt Hail Mary shots as the shot clock was about to expire.

That then paved the way for Converge’s demoralizing 12-0 run, spearheaded by Alec Stockton and Juan Gomez de Liaño, which helped the FiberXers retake the lead, 68-64.

After that sequence, Converge sucked the life out of Rain or Shine, dominating the Elasto Painters over the next 16 minutes and ballooning its lead to as many as 22 points.

Rain or Shine showed some signs of life after the trio of Caelan Tiongson, Deo Cuajao and Lemetti joined forces for an 8-0 run, but Converge answered right back with a scoring barrage of its own that protected its double-digit lead until the final buzzer sounded.

De Liaño spearheaded Converge with a near triple-double of 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, while Clark and Baltazar chipped in 18 and 15 points, respectively.

Calvin Abueva also stepped up when the FiberXers needed him most, turning back the hands of time with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

On the other hand, Rain or Shine received consistent offensive production from Lemetti, who scored 18 points, but Fuller fell short of expectations as the import managed only four points on a dismal 2-of-11 shooting from the field.