Converge put last game’s tough lessons into good use by compounding on the struggles of Phoenix, 92-83, to break through into the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup winners’ circle, Sunday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
No longer wanting to collapse and lose to a last-second shot as what happened versus Meralco in the conference opener, the FiberXers turned it up in the middle quarters before warding off the Fuel Masters late to get on board.
“Unlike the last game, medyo slow start kami. Buti na lang kahit papano, nag-balance out kami the rest of the game,” offered interim head coach Franco Atienza. “I think the players were caught off guard [with the defense].”
(C) PBA images
Alec Stockton led Converge with 18 points and six rebounds. Deschon Winston came through with 14 points and eight rebounds to lead the bench.
Bryan Santos supplied 12 points, spiked by three triples, while lead big man Justin Arana finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds with three assists.
No. 1 pick Justine Baltazar was just a point shy of a personal double-double as he tallied nine points and 16 rebounds, alongside six assists, a steal, and a pair of blocks to submit a full line in the 37 minutes he played as a starter.
It was a balanced attack from a team that continues to miss Jordan Heading due to a back injury, leaving the coaches excited to see which of their guys would be able to step in the absence of the lefty deadshot.
But aside from that, the rest of the think-tank would like to see, too, their wards play consistent basketball from start to the final buzzer — something that they’ve been struggling with two games into this season-ending conference.
After a strong start versus the Bolts that saw them fizzle out in the end, the FiberXers had to overcome a slow start this time around, flipping the match in their favor in the second quarter before building an 84-61 lead in the third.
Yet the opposition threatened in the closing minutes behind JJay Alejandro. Fortunately for them, Baltazar and Stockton kept Phoenix at bay.
They’d eventually get win no. 1 of the tourney, which gives the crew confidence heading into their April 9 match versus Magnolia at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum as part of the league’s 50th anniversary celebration.
“It’s going to be a dogfight,” said Atienza as it would be a battle between teams that got eliminated in the quarterfinals of the last Commissioner’s Cup.
(C) PBA images
Kai Ballungay, meanwhile, had 15 points while Tyler Tio added 13 as the two were the only bright spots for the Fuel Masters in the defeat — already their second in as many outings after bowing to Terrafirma last Friday.
The Scores:
Converge 92 – Stockton 18, Winston 14, Santos 12, Arana 10, Baltazar 9, Nermal 7, Garcia 6, Caralipio 5, Racal 5, Delos Santos 2, Corpuz 2, Ambohot 2, Suerte 0, R.Santos 0.
Phoenix 83 – Ballungay 15, Tio 13, Salado 8, Alejandro 8, Tuffin 7, Rivero 6, Camacho 6, Garcia 6, Ular 4, Soyud 5, Verano 3, Jazul 1, Manganto 1, Daves 0.
Quarterscores: 19-24, 44-38, 67-57, 92-83.
