ANTIPOLO – It’s now a three-way tie on top of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup standings after Converge sent Phoenix skidding, 128-114, on Saturday at the Ynares Center here, to post back-to-back wins for the first time in the tilt.
The FiberXers jumped to a 31-18 lead in the game’s first 12 minutes and that set the tone for the victory.
With the win, the youth-laden crew have gained a share of the lead with TNT and Magnolia, as the troika now hold similar 3-1 records.
It was the Hotshots who joined the Tropang 5G first, following a 104-93 victory over Terrafirma earlier in the night, before Converge joined in the fray.
“Ito ‘yung inaasam namin na back-to-back,” said head coach Delta Pineda. “Ninenerbyos kami lahat, baka mamaya masilat kami eh.”
(C) PBA Images
Six players finished in double figures in the win, with Alec Stockton leading the pack with 22 points alongside three rebounds and two assists.
Juan Gomez de Liano tallied his third double-double already with 19 points and 11 assists, laced with four rebounds and two steals.
Justin Arana and Deschon Winston came through with 17 points each, with the star big man adding seven rebounds and the latter adding seven assists.
Justine Baltazar made 13 points and 12 rebounds while MJ Garcia chipped in 11 points off the bench, as all but two scored at least two points in the win.
It wasn’t all smooth-sailing for the FiberXers, though, especially during the third quarter. Their opponents — after staring at a 29-11 deficit early in the match — put together a rally and got within four, 65-61, early in the said period.
But Arana and Gomez de Liano were there to help stabilize matters, before the others, such as ‘Balti’ and Garcia — and even new signee Jhaymo Eguilos — came in to push their lead back to 98-82 just moments prior to the frame’s end.
“Good thing we stayed focused, even during the third quarter nung nag-run ang Phoenix,” Pineda said. “Hindi kinabahan ‘yung mga bata. Bumawi pa rin.”
Converge will look to make it three straight wins when it takes on defending champions San Miguel on November 2, Sunday, in Antipolo as well.
(C) PBA Images
Jason Perkins, on the other hand, led Phoenix with 27 points. Ricci Rivero made 23 while Kai Ballungay had 21 and eight rebounds.
However, their efforts clearly weren’t enough to keep the team from losing for the third time in four outings.
Tyler Tio added 14 points for a Fuel Masters side that lost Yousef Taha as the seasoned big man was rushed to the hospital early in the fourth quarter.
Coach Willy Wilson and his charges will look to end their two-game slide against the 3-1 Magnolia on October 31, Friday, also at the Ynares Center here.
The Scores:
Converge 128 – Stockton 22, Gomez de Liano 19, Winson 17, Arana 17, Baltazar 13, Garcia 11, Concepcion 9, Clemente 5, Racal 5, Suerte 3, Delos Santos 3, Eguilos 2, Muyang 2, Javillonar 0, Santos 0.
Phoenix 114 – Perkins 27, Rivero 23, Ballungay 21, Tio 14, Tuffin 8, Nelle 7, Taha 3, Manganti 3, Jazul 3, Ando 2, Santos 2, Daves 1, Kwekuteye 0, Caperal 0
Quarterscores: 31-18, 64-30, 98-85, 128-114.
#WATCH: “ITO ANG INAASAM NAMIN NA BACK-TO-BACK!”
Head coach Delta Pineda and Alec Stockton react after Converge’s big win over Phoenix 🏀#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/TGNMAPiX8Q
📹: @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA50 pic.twitter.com/UYxGswYQWH
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) October 25, 2025
