Rain or Shine overturn 21-point deficit to beat Converge in quarterfinal opener
Aaron Fuller scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Elasto Painters won 124-120 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Rain or Shine recovered from 21 points behind to defeat Converge 124-120 on October 27 at Smart Araneta Coliseum, taking the opening game of their PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup quarterfinal series.
Deo Cuajao helped turn the game with three third-quarter three-pointers, one of which put the Elasto Painters ahead 82-81. Rain or Shine outscored Converge 42-28 in the period, entering the fourth quarter with a 97-96 advantage.
Aaron Fuller finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds and two assists. Adrian Nocum contributed 26 points, Caelan Tiongson added 17 and Cuajao scored 15. Two successive Fuller layups, both set up by Nocum, extended the lead to 120-111 before Fuller and Tiongson made four consecutive free throws to finish the scoring.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao credited his team's playoff toughness. He said first-half mistakes, including 13 turnovers, missed free throws and offensive rebounds conceded, had given Converge too many opportunities.
Converge had led 48-27 and held a 68-55 half-time advantage. Cameron Clark finished with 28 points and eight rebounds, while Justin Arana supplied 21 points and five rebounds. The series goes to the first team to win three games.
