Converge stuns San Miguel, forces winner-take-all Game 5 in Governors’ Cup Quarterfinals

Converge FiberXers are not going down without a fight. In a gritty and morale-boosting performance, the FiberXers stunned the highly-favored San Miguel Beermen, 114-100, to force a winner-take-all Game 5 in their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup quarterfinals series on Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

With their backs against the wall, Converge unleashed a balanced attack and took control of the game, especially in the pivotal third quarter, where they outgunned the Beermen, 37-24, to secure an 88-79 advantage heading into the final frame.

Sophomore guard Deschon Winston led the FiberXers with 26 points, including 16 in the third quarter, which helped Converge put some distance between themselves and the powerhouse Beermen. Justin Arana added 25 points and eight rebounds, while import Jalen Jones chipped in with 22 points and eight assists in their best performance of the series.

A key moment in the game came late in the fourth quarter when Bryan Santos knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to stretch Converge’s lead to 101-95, putting the game out of reach for San Miguel.

WATCH: Converge vs. San Miguel (October 4) Game 4 Highlights

San Miguel, led by import EJ Anosike’s 35 points and 11 rebounds, made a late push, cutting the deficit to 103-94 on a basket by June Mar Fajardo, who tallied 17 points and 20 boards. However, Santos’ crucial threes after Jalen Jones committed a flagrant foul penalty one effectively sealed the game for Converge, setting up a do-or-die Game 5.

The Beermen struggled to find their rhythm, with CJ Perez held scoreless in the second half after scoring 11 points in the first half. Marcio Lassiter added 15 points, but it wasn’t enough to stave off Converge’s relentless attack.

Now tied at 2-2, the best-of-five quarterfinal series will be decided in a Game 5 showdown at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, October 6. The winner will advance to the semifinals, where they will face defending champions Barangay Ginebra.