Converge aced its final test in the PBA On Tour following a masterful beatdown of NorthPort, 113-84, Friday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Adrian Wong led the way with a game-high 23 points, 17 of which he made in the second quarter alone as he presided over the FiberXers’ breakaway en route to finishing the preseason tournament with a 6-5 record.
“We considered this as parang our final exam,” said assistant coach Franco Atienza, who pinch-hit for Aldin Ayo as the chief mentor was out due to finishing an agriculture course. “We believe we played the last game well.”
Mike Nieto delivered 19 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Jeron Teng had 17, while Justin Arana tallied his own double-double with 15 and 10.
Nieto and Arana helped out Wong in the key 13-0 run toward a 50-41 lead late in the second period as Converge began to seize control of the game.
The FiberXers scored a total of 62 points in the middle quarters, leaving their foes without any answer to the point that they trailed by as much as 31.
Kevin Racal chipped in 13 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, as all but one scored at least three in the win that saw the team dish out 33 assists.
“It’s always nice to end with a win,” said Atienza as the young ball club now takes a quick break before resuming work for the new season in October.
MJ Ayaay, meanwhile, finished with 19 points off the bench to lead NorthPort, who concluded its On Tour campaign with a 5-6 slate.
JM Calma backed him up with 18 points and 10 rebounds while Paul Zamar added 18 markers, seven boards, and five dimes in the loss.
The Scores:
Converge 113 – Wong 23, Nieto 19, Teng 17, Arana 15, Racal 13, Ambohot 8, Guinto 5, Ebona 5, Luib 5, Zaldivar 3, Stockton 0.
NorthPort 84 – Ayaay 19, Calma 18, Zamar 17, Santos 9, Munzon 9, Salado 5, Comboy 3, Bauzon 3, Gabriel 1, Balagasay 0, Bulawan 0, Yu 0, Sobrevega 0.
Quarterscores: 24-23, 55-43, 86-66, 113-84.
