FiberXers pound Painters to close in on semis

MANILA, Philippines -- Converge blasted Rain or Shine, 130-118, to draw first blood in their best-of-three PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Six Converge players finished in double digits as the FiberXers pounced on the early exit of Rain or Shine import Deon Thompson, who fouled out in the third quarter.

Cheick Diallo powered Converge with 35 points, 17 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Justin Arana added 21 points and nine rebounds off the bench,while Jordan Heading chipped in 21 markers, nine dimes, three boards, two swats and a steal.

The FiberXers were leading by just one, 105-104, with about 10 minutes remaining after an and-one play by Adrian Nocum.

Seven straight points by Converge, though, put them firmly in control, 112-104. But it was answered by a short jumper by Keith Datu to cut the lead to six, 106-112, with 8:13 left.

Since then, a backbreaking 12-2 run capped by an exclamation mark of a dunk by Justine Baltazar put the game out of reach, 122-108, with 3:50 to go.

Nocum finally broke the run with a layup, but a pair of free throws by Schonny Winston, followed by a triple by Heading, iced the game, 127-110.

Winston added 17 points for Converge, while Baltazar and Alec Stockton had 13. points each.

Caelan Tiongson picked up the slack left by Thompson and produced 23 points and three rebounds. Nocum, Anton Asistio and Thompson each chipped in 14 points.

Rain or Shine led by as much as 17 points in the first quarter, before the victors erased the deficit and overtook the Elasto Painters in the second frame.

Come the third, the two squads were trading baskets, but Thompson was called for three fouls within the first four minutes of the third quarter that ultimately disqualified him.

The FiberXers then took a nine-point advantage in the third, but the gritty Elasto Painters did not go away, until Converge’s massive run in the fourth put them completely in the driver’s seat.

The FiberXers will try to advance to the next round of the import-laden conference in Game 2 on Friday, 7:30 p.m., at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.