Quincy Miller and Maverick Ahanmisi saved the day as Converge averted disaster and escaped Meralco, 106-99, to snap out of a two-game funk in the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The American cager finished with 29 points and 16 rebounds, while the gunslinging guard tallied 21 as the two combined for the crucial five points that the FiberXers badly needed to get out triumphant after losing a 22-point lead.
Miller gave their side a 99-97 lead following a big three-point play conversion with 1:38 to go, and Ahanmisi would strike the dagger by way of a corner three-pointer with 39.9 seconds left to leave the Bolts reeling.
“It feels good, especially coming from two consecutive losses. The way we won today, it showed our character. We lost the 20-point lead, but we were able to recover,” said coach Aldin Ayo, who was celebrating his 45th birthday.
Ahanmisi fired five of Converge’s 16 three-pointers in the win, four of which he made in the fourth quarter alone as he held the fort for his squad after losing Miller for three minutes following an F1 infraction with 5:34 left.
“We huddled up as a group and we knew the task at hand at that point because Quincy was going to be out for three minutes, so we just tried to recover or keep the momentum going that we had when he was in the game,” said Ahanmisi.
It definitely wasn’t a good look to see their import saddled on the bench given the situation but it surely helped Miller get enough rest, and showed as much when he made that and-one play that put the FiberXers up for good.
The 29-year-old didn’t stop there, whamming the nail in the coffin after Ahanmisi’s trey by sinking his charities to make it 104-97 with 21.1 ticks left.
“Talking about consistency, wala pa. But again, it showed our character on how to bounce back after losing the 20-point lead that we had,” said Ayo.
Allyn Bulanadi had 12 points, all of which he made in the first half which Converge ended with a 68-48 lead. Jeron Teng had 11 points and five rebounds, while RK Ilagan added 10 as Converge improved to 2-2.
The FiberXers will look to build a winning streak against San Miguel Beer on October 21, Friday, 5:45 p.m. at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Johnny O’Bryant, meanwhile, led Meralco with 27 points and 15 rebounds in the loss that wasted his efforts, which saw him prevent fouling out after incurring four fouls in the first half alone and lead the second half uprising.
The former NBA cager fired 15 points in the third quarter alone and was also instrumental in giving his side a 93-90 lead in the fourth by dishing the assist to Bong Quinto, but went scoreless in the final four minutes.
Aaron Black had 18 points, while Allein Maliksi and Anjo Caram fired 14 apiece for the Bolts, who missed Chris Banchero due to an ankle injury — indeed a tough blow for a side that’s already without Chris Newsome (calf).
Now at 1-3, Meralco will look to pick itself up against the streaking Phoenix Super LPG on October 19, Wednesday, at 3 p.m. also at Philsports.
The Scores:
Converge 106 – Miller 29, Ahanmisi 21, Bulanadi 12, Teng 11, Ilagan 10, Tratter 9, Melecio 8, Stockton 4, Racal 2, Ambohot 0.
Meralco 99 – O’Bryant 27, Black 18, Maliksi 14, Caram 14, Quinto 12, Hodge 10, Pasaol 4, Johnson 0, Almazan 0, Jose 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 35-26, 68-48, 87-82, 106-99.
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
