NLEX and Converge to contest first PBA finals berth
Their race-to-three semifinal begins on Dec. 4, after a three-week league break for Gilas Pilipinas’ World Cup qualifying campaign.
NLEX and Converge will face each other from Dec. 4 in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup semifinals, with both teams seeking their first appearance in the finals. The race-to-three series follows a three-week pause for Gilas Pilipinas’ fourth-window FIBA World Cup Qualifiers campaign in Malaysia.
For Converge, the series marks its first semifinal appearance since entering the PBA in Season 47. The FiberXers had failed to advance from the quarterfinals in seven previous attempts before overcoming Rain or Shine.
Converge recovered from a 0-1 series deficit with three consecutive victories, sealing its place with a 120-109 win. Juan Gomez de Liaño said the team had maintained its belief through adversity and remained eager to reach the finals.
NLEX, led by Robert Bolick, eliminated Phoenix with a 3-0 sweep. The Road Warriors are making their third attempt to progress beyond the semifinals, having joined the league in Season 40.
Jimmy Alapag, coaching NLEX in his first conference in charge, said reaching the semifinals completed only the initial part of the team’s objective. He said the players would keep working to improve before the next round.
The remaining semifinal pairing is not yet settled. Defending champion TNT awaits either San Miguel Beer or Barangay Ginebra, whose quarterfinal series is level after four games. Their deciding contest is scheduled for Tuesday.
