Deon Thompson's presence all match spelled the difference in Rain or Shine’s Game 2 win over Converge in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
"'Yung isang paa namin, nasa hukay na."
This was how Converge big man Justin Arana described the FiberXers' predicament after succumbing to Rain or Shine, 114-104, in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals Friday, Feb. 7.
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Behind Adrian Nocum and import Deon Thompson, who each scored 28 points, the Elasto Painters dragged the series into a deciding Game 3 on Sunday, Feb. 7.
With Converge's potential first semifinal appearance in franchise history on the line, Arana said he and the rest of his teammates are extra motivated to get better in time for the rubber match.
“Mas motivated kami ngayon kasi 1-1 kami," said Arana.
"Kapag nanalo, advance. Kapag natalo, laglag kami,” he added.
“Mas magiging eager pa kaming manalo and siyempre, 'yung adjustment, pag-aaralan namin. Mag-do-double effort kami, especially bukas. Papanoorin namin kung ano ang mga mistakes namin this game para makapag-prepare kami for Sunday."
Justin Arana of the Converge FiberXers tries to squeeze past defenders Keith Datu and Deon Thompson of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Among the things Rain or Shine needs to address is Thompson’s post presence.
In Converge’s opening win, Thompson fouled out with still eight minutes and 34 seconds left in the third period.
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Now that the lanky reinforcement stayed on the floor for as long as 40 minutes, that spelled the difference for Rain or Shine.
“Siyempre, isa 'yan sa pinakamalaki para sa Rain or Shine na may import silang sobrang maasahan. Kami siguro, need naming mag-adjust din sa ganoon. Kasi nag-start sa kaniya. Doon kami nayari sa post and kick niya,” Arana said.
“Poposte siya then i-ki-kick out niya 'pag may nag-double sa kaniya. 'Yun ang kailangan naming pag-aralan ngayon, eh. Malakas ang katawan kaya need pa talaga naming mag-extra [work].”
The deciding match unfurls at 5 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.