THE quarterfinals pairing in the PBA Governors’ Cup was finally completed Monday night during the final playdate of the group stage at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Converge turned back a Magnolia side that paraded a new import in Rayvonte Rice.

The FiberXers prevailed, 89-82, to clinch the no. 3 seed in Group A for a best-of-five series with Group B no. 2 San Miguel.

The Hotshots meanwhile, fell at no. 4 and will meet Group B topnotcher Rain or Shine in the playoffs.

Rain or Shine finished its group stage campaign with a 139-118 loss to Blackwater Bossing in a virtual no-bearing game.

Here’s some of the takeaways in the final day of the eliminations of the season opening conference

1.RICE PULLS BACK HIS PUNCHES

Photo by: PBA Images

The new Magnolia import obviously didn’t go full speed in his first game with the franchise. Rice finished with just five points on 2-of-14 shooting, while adding seven rebounds and three assists.

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, whose team will meet the Hotshots in the quarterfinals, wouldn’t be lulled in complacency and believes the real Rayvonte Rice will show up come the playoffs.

Incidentally, Rice was originally being eyed by Converge as replacement for the injured Scotty Hopson before eventually settling for Jalen Jones, paving the way for Rice to end up with Magnolia.

2.FIBERXERS ON A WINNING RUN GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS

Photo by: PBA Images

The team is on a high going to its first quarterfinals stint in two years after putting together a four-game winning run, capped by that 105-97 victory over reigning Philippine Cup champion Meralco. The winning streak should be a perfect sendoff for the FiberXers, who are going to have their hands full in the playoffs against the mighty San Miguel Beermen.

3.KING HAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE PHILIPPINES

Photo by: PBA Images

The Blackwater import certainly enjoyed his first ever stint in the PBA and in the country, so much so that he expressed his intention to become a naturalized player for Gilas Pilipinas.

He also left a lasting imprint in the Bossing’s franchise history by pouring in 64 big points in a 21-point blowout of the Elasto Painters. The output is the highest individual score in Blackwater history, eclipsing the previous high of 55 points scored by Troy Williams during the 2023 Governors Cup.

The prolific import was also a perfect 20-of-20 from the foul line, tying the second all-time most free throws made in a game without a miss by former NBA player and Ginebra import Wes Matthews in a 121-118 loss to Purefoods in the 1991 Third Conference.