CONVERGE is in a good position to finally nail a first-ever PBA semifinal entry, taking its first of two cracks at it versus embattled rival Rain or Shine at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Friday.
Failing to get past the quarterfinals in each of their first six tourneys since taking over the Alaska Milk franchise, the FiberXers are now bent on cracking the Last Four, going for the clincher in their 7:30 p.m. duel with the Elasto Painters.
Coach Franco Atienza's wards lived up to their higher seeding at No. 3 and repulsed the Elasto Painters, 130-118, in the opener of the Commissioner's Cup best-of-three quarters face-off Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Cheick Diallo and his teammates pounced on the early exit of Dion Thompson on fouls, making a big salvo at the finish and thus gaining the crucial 1-0 upper hand in the short race-to-two series.
"It was a good break for na us nawala si Dion, who's really a big presence inside," said Atienza of the ROS import who exited after playing only 24 minutes of play in Game 1.
Sponsored content:
"Gusto naming manalo talaga kasi pang-lima na namin ito sa quarterfinals and hindi pa kami nakakalusot doon sa unang apat. So gigil talaga kami ma-seal ang Game 1 at hopefully sa Game 2 para makuha namin ang first semis namin," said big man Justin Arana.
With Thompson helpless on the bench, Arana asserted himself at the paint and logged in 22 points and eight rebounds, leading the FiberXers to the brink of the semis.
Arana played big in his first game back from an ankle injury and teamed up with Diallo and Justine Baltazar and dealing the Elasto Painters big damage.
The task now for the FiberXers is closing out the series.
If successful, the FiberXers will advance to the semis versus the winner of the TNT-NorthPort clash.(SB)
