Converge detonated a massive third-quarter explosion to blow out Terrafirma, 125-108, and to quickly get back on the winning track in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, Wednesday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The FiberXers fired 37 points in the said period to turn an eight-point halftime edge to a 96-76 lead entering the final canto, and they’d stay ahead en route to atoning for the 110-103 loss they suffered at the hands of TNT last Saturday.
“Ang Terrafirma, lahat sila may authority to score kaya ang hirap bantayan. Nakita niyo naman how close ‘yung first half natin,” said head coach Delta Pineda. “Mabuti naman at na-overcome namin nung second half.”
(C) PBA Images
Eight players finished in twin digits in the rout, with Alec Stockton leading the way with 22 points, three rebounds, five assists, four steals, and a block.
Juan Gomez de Liano registered his second PBA triple-double already, as he tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists along with two steals.
MJ Garcia made 15 points. Schonny Winston had 14 points and five rebounds, with Justin Arana tallying a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Ditto with Justine Baltazar with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the triumph that also served as a warm welcome to the debuting duo of John Lloyd Clemente and the comebacking Larry Muyang, which both added 10 markers.
Muyang, previously of Phoenix, and his impressive outing enabled the Arana-Baltazar tandem to get some more rest, much to the coaches’ delight.
“Ni-remind ko po sila kanina na everyone coming from the bench should step up. Every time na mag-pull ako from the bench they need to step up, they need to contribute. Good thing naman po most of them did contribute,” said Pineda.
Now at 2-1, Converge has created a three-way logjam with Magnolia and TNT at the top spot of the team standings as they all tote identical records.
The loss, meanwhile, was the Dyip’s second in three games–and also spoiled the debut of Aljon Mariano, who came along with Maverick Ahanmisi after the two got traded by Ginebra for the team’s Season 50 first-round pick.
(C) PBA Images
Mariano, though, showed that he can still be reliable as the seasoned forward produced 10 points, two rebounds, and three assists to finish as one of actually seven players that scored in double figures–albeit in a losing effort.
Jerrick Ahanmisi led Terrafirma with 16 points, spiked by a pair of outside shots that included a four-pointer. Louie Sangalang had 15 points, JM Bravo made 13, while the troika of Didat Hanapu, Paolo Hernandez, and Mark Nonoy added 10.
Nonoy, however, was not able to finish the match after suffering a hamstring injury early in the third, never to return–thus the end of what could’ve been a solid night for him as he was 4-of-6 from the floor before leaving.
Both squads will plunge back into action this Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Terrafirma opens the double-header offering with a meeting against Magnolia at 5;15 p.m. before Converge faces Phoenix at the 7:30 nightcap.
The Scores:
Converge 125 – Stockton 22, Gomez de Liano 17, Garcia 15, Winston 14, Arana 13, Baltazar 12, Clemente 10, Muyang 10, Javillonar 6, Concepcion 3, Delos Santos 0, Santos 0, Suerte 0.
Terrafirma 108 – Ahanmisi 16, Sangalang 15, Bravo 13, Hanapi 10, Hernandez 10, Mariano 10, Nonoy 10, Paraiso 7, River 6, Catapusan 4, Zaldivar 4, Garcia 3, Olivario 0, Bataller 0.
Quarterscores: 29-30; 59-51; 96-76; 125-108.
