Converge outlasted an all-Filipino NLEX side, 112-110, to notch back-to-back wins for the first time in quite some time in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Friday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The FiberXers lost the lead and found themselves trailing 99-97 after Robert Bolick’s long four-pointer with 2:27 remaining. But they refused to go down, with Juan Gomez de Liano leading the charge to prevent a late collapse.
The lefty playmaker took the lead back for themselves at 101-99 with 2:10 to spare, and they’d be in the driver’s seat the rest of the way. Cam Clark and Justin Arana came through with crucial buckets to help secure the upset.
With the victory, Converge became just the second team to defeat NLEX, improving to 5-4 in Group A and overtaking 4-4 TNT for third place.
(C) PBA Images
“Back-to-back, but I think we need more adjustments on our defense. Imagine, they didn’t have an import, but it was a close game. So that’s something we need to work on in the coming break,” said head coach Delta Pineda.
Clark finished with 37 points and 12 rebounds, as he continued to be the difference-maker for a FiberXers team that is streaking once again.
Gomez de Liano added 19 points, six rebounds, and eight assists, while Arana also scored 19 points to go with nine boards. The tandem combined for 23 of the FiberXers’ 38 points in the fourth quarter.
Justine Baltazar had 11 points and seven rebounds, while Calvin Abueva fell just short of a double-double with six points and 13 rebounds.
‘The Beast,’ however, caused some anxiety on his own bench when he fouled L-Jay Gonzales, who quickly got a shot off from four-point range and made it, cutting the deficit to the eventual score with six-tenths of a second remaining.
(C) PBA Images
That gave the Road Warriors a chance at a five-point play — a legitimate opportunity despite the little time left. Gonzales intentionally missed the free throw, hoping his teammates could tip in the rebound and force a tie, but Clark was there to secure the board.
Gonzales led NLEX with 23 points off the bench. Bolick posted a 19-6-6 line, while Deschon Winston tallied 17 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
JB Bahio added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Road Warriors, who now share the Group A lead with San Miguel at 7-2.
The Scores:
Converge 112– Clark 37, Arana 19, Gomez de Liano 19, Baltazar 11, Abueva 6, Garcia 5, Williams 4, Stockton 3, Tungcab 3, Policarpio 3, Concepcion 2.
NLEX 110 – Gonzales 23, Bolick 19, Winston 17, Bahio 16, Semerad 9, Ramirez 8, Capulong 5, Valdez 5, Gamboa 4, Racal 2, Alas 2, Rodger 0, Fajardo 0, Torres 0, Nelle 0.
Quarterscores: 22-30, 51-51, 74-79, 112-110.
