PBA: Converge frustrates San Miguel, forces decider for semis spot

Schonny Winston leads Converge FiberXers past San Miguel Beermen to force a Game 5 in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Converge played with grit last Monday and found resounding success.

The club did so again on Friday night to pull out a 114-100 Game 4 win over San Miguel, dragging the powerhouse club into a rubber match to settle their quarterfinals matchup.

The FiberXers played through pain and the absence of their import Jalen Jones, who after a flagrant foul sat out a critical stretch in crunch time, to survive the Beermen at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

SCHEDULE: 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals

“As good as Schonny (Winston) played, you got to give credit to everyone, especially to our bigs who battled through foul trouble. If we go up against them (San Miguel) one-on-one, we have no chance. I’m just glad we’re able to defend them as a team and execute as a team also. That’s the only formula for us,” said interim coach Franco Atienza.

Converge import Jalen Jones during the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal game against San Miguel. –PBA IMAGES

Winston had 26 points, six rebounds, and five assists to show the way for the FiberXer, which—as Atienza said—drew solid contributions from the rest of the squad.

Justin Arana had 25 points despite a bum right hand, Jones finished 22, Alec Stockton 16 while King Caralipio chipped in 10 in the collective effort. Bryan Santos had nine—six of which coming from back-to-back triples with three minutes left to put the game away from the Beermen’s reach.

READ: PBA: Anosike says San Miguel no plans of letting Converge tie series

“We forced a do-or-die for Sunday. But whenever you go to a sudden death … everything’s out of the window,” Atienza added. “All the adjustments will be there in that one game. We just have to play with the same energy, the same sharpness, the same togetherness that we had today.”

Game 5 is set at Ynaes Center in Antipolo.

Import EJ Anosike had 35 points and 11 rebounds. June Mar Fajardo added 17 while Marcio Lassiter 15 in the losing stand which should bother the San Miguel brain trust as their squad already fumbled two chances to finish off Converge.

READ: PBA: EJ Anosike outplays Jalen Jones in 2nd game for Beermen

The last team to win a best-of-five series after going down 0-2 was Barangay Ginebra during the 2010 Philippine Cup quarterfinals against TNT, according to stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.

Converge is the third team after that Ginebra-TNT clash to forge a rubber match after trailing 2-zip. The other two clubs were Alaska on the way to the 2010 Fiesta Conference title, and San Mig Coffee, en route to its third crown and a rare Grand Slam.