Justin Arana steps up for Converge to close in on semis berth
Justin Arana returned to the hardcourt to guide Converge past Rain or Shine as it eked out a 130-118 win in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinals series in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, February 5, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Converge’s big man put up 22 points and eight rebounds in his return from a knee injury that saw the FiberXers overcome a 17-point deficit to win the first game of the best-of-three quarterfinals.
“This is our fifth time being in the quarterfinals but we have yet to reach the semis. We’re really eager to seal the win,” said Arana in Filipino. “Hopefully, we get another win so we can make our first semis trip.”
As Rain or Shine continued to dominate despite the manpower problem, Adrian Nocum then made a three-pointer to put the deficit at 104-105 early in the fourth quarter.
After being forced to sit out due to a blatant foul late in the third, Arana came alive and made up for lost time.
Unfazed by the hyperextended knee he sustained in their penultimate elimination round matchup against the San Miguel Berrmen on January 24, Arana gave Converge a comfortable 122-108 cushion after sinking nine points in a 17-4 run.
Import Cheick Diallo top scored for the FiberXers with 35 markers on top of 17 boards and three rejections, capitalizing on the premature exit of Elasto Painters counterpart Deon Thompson in the third period due to six fouls.
Jordan Heading posted 21 points with nine assists and two blocks for the FiberXers, while Schonny Winston registered 17 markers, pulled down four boards, and dished out four dimes.
Alec Stockton delivered a 13-point, 10-assist double-double, with rookie Justin Baltazar adding 13 markers and six boards, highlighted by his poster slam on veteran Beau Belga during their fourth-quarter breakaway.
Meanwhile, Caelan Tiongson scored 23 points, three rebounds, and two assists to lead the Elasto Painters. But his efforts went down the drain as it was unable to cover the void left by Thompson, who played just under 25 minutes.
Adrian Nocum and Anton Asistio contributed 14 points each in the defeat.
Converge will look to conclude the series and advance to the semifinals when Game 2 unwraps on Friday, February 7, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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The NLEX Road Warriors wrapped up their preseason on a high note, clinching the 40th Kadayawan Invitational championship with a commanding 101-84 victory over the Blackwater Bossing on Sunday night, August 26, at the University of Southern Philippines in Davao City.
It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for NLEX, which found itself down by 11 early in the game. But the tide shifted in the second quarter, where the Road Warriors erupted for a 34-12 run behind the efforts of Robert Bolick, Dominic Fajardo, Tony Semerad, and Xyrus Torres to seize a 52-36 halftime lead.
Blackwater attempted a late push, cutting the gap to 76-65 in the fourth quarter, but NLEX responded with a 12-5 counter that put the game out of reach. Semerad, who buried three triples in the payoff period, earned Finals MVP honors with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Torres topped the scoring for NLEX with 19 markers, while Bolick came close to a triple-double with eight points, six boards, and nine assists. JB Bahio and Fajardo chipped in 12 and 10 markers, respectively. As a team, the Road Warriors torched the net from beyond the arc, going 18-of-34, with Semerad and Torres sinking four each.
Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 15 points, while Richard Escoto added 14. The Bossing, despite falling short in the finals, had an impressive run in the preliminaries, including a comeback win over NLEX, 95-90, earlier in the tournament.
The championship serves as a timely boost for NLEX heading into the new PBA season. Last year, the Road Warriors finished second in the Philippine Cup eliminations before bowing out in the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine. Deputy mentor Adonis Tierra called the shots in their last two games, steering the team to become the second straight PBA squad to lift the Kadayawan crown, following Rain or Shine’s sweep in 2024. NLEX closed the tournament with a 3-1 card, their lone loss coming at the hands of Blackwater.
In the battle for third place, Phoenix avoided a winless campaign with a convincing 101-81 rout of Converge. Raffy Verano led the way with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Tyler Tio and Kai Ballungay contributed 17 and 15 markers, respectively. The win marked the first for new head coach Willy Wilson, who took over during the offseason. Coincidentally, Phoenix also defeated Converge for third place in last year’s edition of the tournament.
The NLEX Road Warriors and Blackwater Bossing opened their campaigns in the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational with victories in their respective first games on Thursday, August 21, at the USEP Gym in Davao City.
In the first game, Sedrick Barefield made an immediate impact for the Bossing. The 2024 second overall pick erupted for 28 points, including six triples. Three of those came in succession in the fourth quarter, turning a slim 72-66 lead into a more comfortable 81-68 cushion.
Troy Mallillin contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while newcomer Jed Mendoza impressed in his debut with 16 points.
For the Phoenix Fuel Masters, Jason Perkins and Kai Ballungay scored 12 points apiece in their first game under new head coach Willie Wilson, who took over from Jamike Jarin after he was moved to a team consultant role.
The East Asia Super League (EASL) is officially set to raise the curtain on its new season with a twin opening in Taipei and Tokyo on October 8, 2025 — a move that reflects the league’s expanding reach and growing stature as Asia’s premier basketball competition.
All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
The second game of the night brings a rematch between the P. LEAGUE+ champions Taoyuan Pauian Pilots and Japan’s Ryukyu Golden Kings. Their last encounter came in the 2025 EASL Final Four semifinals, where Taoyuan stunned Ryukyu, 71–64. This time, the Golden Kings are eager for redemption, while the Pilots hope to reaffirm their place among Asia’s elite.
Game schedule (HKT):
- Utsunomiya vs. Taipei Fubon – 6:30 PM
- Taoyuan vs. Ryukyu – 8:30 PM