CONVERGE coach Delta Pineda expects Rain or Shine to come back for Game 3 where both squads are targeting a 2-1 lead in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The FiberXers and the Elasto Painters go to Dasmariñas City, Cavite for the continuation of their best-of-five series, hoping that they end Game 3 one victory away from a semifinals berth.
Converge tied the series in Game 2 after fighting off a comeback bid by Rain or Shine from 15 points down to secure a 130-125 win.
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Pineda said securing a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five quarterfinals will have to be earned by the FiberXers.
“Babalik po sigurado si Kuya Yeng. Babalikan ako nun,” said Pineda of Rain or Shine coach and former Pampanga vice governor Yeng Guiao.
Converge drew bounceback performances from Justine Baltazar and Mikey Williams in Game 2.
Limited to only three points and three rebounds in Game 1, Baltazar was back to his double-double ways with 18 markers and 11 boards in Game 2. He logged 5-of-7 from the field after taking only four shots in Game 1, making just one.
Williams sealed the deal for Converge in Game 2 with a three-pointer with 35.2 seconds left and a four-point cushion in the final moments. He finished with 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting after a rough three-point, 1-of-12 night in Game 1.
“I’m glad everyone is on the same page,” said Converge guard Juan Gomez de Liano.
“Talagang gusto lang namin makapanalo especially in this series na to. It’s a very good match-up, Rain or Shine and Converge, I see a lot of similarities with both teams. They like to play fast. They have a lot of young guns as well, and marami ring shooters.”
But Rain or Shine will look to regroup after its comeback from a 15-point deficit sputtered in the end following crucial shots by Converge and a few turnovers in the endgame.
“Pero siyempre, we need to prepare more at expect ‘yung comeback ng Rain or Shine. Doon ko po ire-ready ‘yung mga anak ko po,” Pineda stated.
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