PBA: No brakes for surging Rain or Shine in escape win over Converge 

Jaylen Johnson sizzled from downtown at the right time to bail out Rain or Shine against Converge, 120-111, and extend their unbeaten run in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The American import dropped two crucial three-pointers late in the fourth period to help the league-leading Elasto Painters avert yet another collapse after nearly squandering a 23-point lead. 

The nine-point escape allowed Rain or Shine to stay unbeaten in six games, delivering a fitting win on Gabe Norwood’s jersey retirement night.

"It's always a mental collapse, it's just relaxing when you feel that you have a good lead. Madalas mangyari pero ando'n pa rin 'yung swerte," Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao said. 

"One of these nights hindi namin masu-survive 'yung mga gano'ng rally. But hanggang sinuswerte, we'll take the wins. We have six wins and I think it's good enough to make the quarters."

Similar to their game against San Miguel just two days ago where the Elasto Painters built a huge lead but had to fend off a late-game scare from the Beermen en route to a 116-112 win, Rain or Shine also nearly wasted a big lead over Converge. 

Mike Malonzo sent Rain or Shine to a 100-77 lead off a triple early in the fourth, but the FiberXers flipped the switch and trimmed the gap to just two, 109-107, when Alec Stockton, Mikey Williams, and Juan Gomez de Liaño fueled a 30-9 blast.

But Johnson hit a three-pointer following a pair of free throws from Caelan Tiongson to create a 114-107 cushion. The reinforcement then converted a layup before burying another booming triple, giving Rain or Shine an 119-11 lead in the final 20 seconds. 

Johnson posted a double-double outing of 35 points and 21 rebounds, along with three assists, two blocks, and one steal, helping Rain or Shine gut out the victory despite only getting eight points from its top scorer Adrian Nocum. 

With Nocum limited, Gian Mamuyac led the local support with 21 markers while Tiongson and Joshua Caracut chipped in 14 and 12 points apiece. 

Converge, which lost despite the return of Gomez de Liaño and the debut of Calvin Abueva, leaned on Stockton as he poured in 17. Williams, Justin Arana, and import Kylor Kelley each had 16. 

Scores:

Rain or Shine 120 – Johnson 35, Mamuyac 21, Tiongson 14, Caracut 12, Lemetti 10, Nocum 8, Malonzo 7, Clarito 5, David 3, Manaytay 2, Roque 2, Santillan 1, Villegas 0.

Converge 111 – Stockton 17, Williams 16, Kelley 16, Arana 16, Gomez de Liano 14, Polcarpio 11, Baltazar 9, Abueva 5, Garcia 5, Muyang 2, Concepcion 0.

Quarters: 31-29, 61-54, 95-75, 120-111.

—JKC, GMA News