Converge turned in a record-setting performance on the way to slaying another giant in TNT, 130-117, to stretch its winning streak to three in the 2022-23 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Friday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The FiberXers nailed 21 triples, tied for seventh all-time most in a game and the most since Phoenix’s 22 back in 2020 per league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, to gun down the Tropang Giga and chalk up their fourth victory.
Aldin Ayo’s wards found the mark early on, leading to a splendid 43-point performance in the first quarter that ballooned 73 at the break — both of which are now league season-highs and franchise season-highs.
“That game was our sixth game. Slowly, na-absorb na ng mga players ‘yung ginagawa namin, especially ‘yung approach sa laro,” said Ayo.
Quincy Miller bannered the dominant victory with 38 points on nine triples, which is the most by an import in a game since Arizona Reid also made the same amount in San Miguel’s win over NorthPort back in 2015.
The well-traveled American reinforcement also collected 20 rebounds for a rare 30-20 outing, together with five assists and a steal in 44 minutes.
Jeron Teng also shined with 22 points on four triples, on top of eight rebounds and five assists. Aljun Melecio reset his career-high with 20 points, Justin Arana tallied 14 and 10, while Mike DiGregorio chipped in 13 markers.
Miller, Teng, Melecio, and Arana already scored in double figures in the game’s first 24 minutes, where Converge scored the most points in a half since NLEX made 74 in the second half of its 105-102 win over Terrafirma last June.
Still, Ayo pointed out things for his side to improve on, particularly on defense after allowing TNT to get within just nine late in the game after leading by as much as 35 points, 91-66, early in the third quarter.
“We have a tendency to divert from our game plan every time we have good leads, big leads. Yun ang nagiging problema, nagre-relax sa depensa,” he said. “When you say relax, instead of arm length, we tend to sag down.
“Siguro doon nagpapahinga eh. I know that we get tired in our offense because we keep on running, the problem is doon kami nagpapahinga sa depensa. ‘Yun ang kailangan naming i-address,” added the young mentor.
Converge (4-2) will try to win four in a row when it battles the up-and-down NLEX (3-3) on November 5, Saturday, 4:30 at the Ynares Center.
Cam Oliver saw his effort go down the drain as he finished with 41 points and 11 rebounds to lead TNT, who dropped to 3-3 in the standings.
Mikey Williams backed him up with 27 points and six assists. Roger Pogoy had 19 points, while Kib Montalbo chimed in 13 in the loss.
The Tropang Giga have the chance to rebound quickly on Sunday in Antipolo as well, but will have to get past the streaking Phoenix Super LPG.
The Scores:
Converge 130 – Miller 38, Teng 22, Melecio 20, Arana 14, DiGregorio 13, Ahanmisi 8, Ilagan 5, Tratter 5, Stockton 3, Racal 2, Hill 0, Bulanadi 0.
TNT 117 – Oliver 41, M.Williams 27, Pogoy 19, Montalbo 13, Castro 9, Oftana 4, K.Williams 3, Erram 1, Tungcab 0, Marcelo 0.
Quarterscores: 43-24, 73-47, 113-85, 130-117.
—
The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
