THE double-barreled threat of Deon Thompson and Adrian Nocum proved to be one big problem Converge failed to solve anew as the duo powered Rain or Shine to a 112-103 victory Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo and into the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals.
Thompson scored a personal conference-high 34 points on top of 12 rebounds and seven assists while Nocum added 25 as the duo spearheaded an all-around attack just like they did in combining for 56 points in a 114-104 win last Friday.
By taking the best-of-three series' rubber match, the Elasto Painters advanced to the semifinals for the third straight conference and would be facing familiar foe TNT in a race-to-four affair.
"We're very happy. The past two conferences we made the semifinals so it would be a pity if we did not make the semifinals this conference," said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, whose team almost got derailed from that goal when Converge took the opener, 130-118.
"It's also a validation of all the hard work the guys put in, the togetherness and the camaraderie that they have," added Guiao.
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It was also TNT which foiled Rain or Shine's hopes of making the finals in the last Governors Cup, winning their Final Four duel, 4-1.
Still, Guiao is unfazed by the task. "Ang ano ko rito, if you hang around long enough maybe you'll make the finals. So just hang around there, be in the thick of the fight," he said, only half in jest.
"Just be there, just show up and maybe one day you can get to the finals. Iyon lang objective namin."
The loss fully quashed Converge's hopes of a maiden semifinals appearance as its youth-laden squad failed to match the more experienced Rain or Shine crew.
Alec Stockton sure tried with a conference- and playoffs career-best 26 points to go with six assists while Cheick Diallo added 19 points and 13 rebounds and Justine Baltazar also showed up with 16 points and nine boards.
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But Diallo committing his fifth foul that forced his lengthy sidelining starting at the 5:45 mark of the third period clearly took its toll.
Ironically, it was Beau Belga booming in back-to-back triples and Nocum stringing up five straight points that sparked the E-Painters' critical surge from an 80-77 count and into a 91-80 spread.
Diallo was fielded back in at the final 9:45 mark, but Andrei Caracut boomed in Rain or Shine's 11th triple that made it a 14-point 94-82 difference and Converge would come no closer than five points the rest of the way.(NC)
The Scores :
RAIN OR SHINE 112 - Thompson 34, Nocum 25, Caracut 14, Clarito 11, Asistio 7, Belga 6, Datu 5, Tiongson 5, Santillan 4, Malonzo 1.
CONVERGE 103 - Stockton 26, Diallo 19, Baltazar 16, Arana 15, Winston 14, Racal 7, Heading 3, Andrade 3, Santos 0, Cabagnot 0, Caralipio 0, Delos Santos 0, Javillonar 0.
QUARTERS: 22-21, 50-45, 80-77, 112-103
