ROS, Converge clash in important tiff

THE chase for the top 2 finish continues as Rain or Shine and Converge clash in an all-important match on Tuesday in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.Both squads clash at 7:30 p.m., hoping to get back on the winning track after seeing their respective win streaks come to half with a loss last week.In the opening game at 5 p.m., NorthPort (7-1) tries to cement further its hold for top spot when it battles dangerous Meralco (5-3).With no team having a clear advantage yet at the top 2, which dangle a twice-to-beat incentive heading to the playoffs, ROS (5-2) will be eager to shake off its 91-93 upset at the hands of Phoenix, that effectively ended the team's five winning streak.Converge (6-3) though has the same thing in mind, considering that the charges of coach Franco Atienza suffered a heartbreaking 96-98 defeat to TNT.ROS has reached the semifinals in its last two conferences, but coach Yeng Guiao believes his young core that has gained experience in recent months, can do much more now.Deon Thompson leads the Elasto Painters' charge, along with Leonard Santillan, Andrei Caracut and Adrian Nocum, with veterans Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood as usual providing leadership and stability.And while ROS is known for its fast-paced attack, Guiao's squad can expect a grind-it-out game against Converge, which will have import Chieck Diallo at the forefront, along with Justin Araña, cat-quick guard Alec Stockton, along with rookies Jordan Heading and Justine Baltazar providing depth.Meanwhile, NorthPort is oozing with confidence, considering that the team is coming off a morale-boosting 119-116 win over Barangay Ginebra last week.The win marked the first time the Batang Pier defeated the Gin Kings in five years, having lost their previous 14 games against the league's most popular squad.