Converge spoiled the debut of Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle after blasting Terrafirma, 127-95, on Wednesday evening in what could be a sign of good things to come for the team in the newly-opened PBA season.
The FiberXers erupted for 47 points in the third quarter while holding down their foes to just 18 to enter the final frame with a 100-67 lead, which were enough to take the fight out of the Dyip for a rousing start to the Governors’ Cup.
It was, despite it being just their first outing, surely a statement game for a team that finished last in the previous season, which ultimately enabled the franchise to pick first in the Season 49 Draft and used as much to get Justine Baltazar.
Converge winning, furthermore, served as a solid start for interim head coach Franco Atienza at the helm as he’s given the keys, for now, following the club’s mutual parting of ways with former chief mentor Aldin Ayo.
“It was a team effort,” said Atienza. “I think we defended well. Scoring that many points is an offshoot of how we defended. We didn’t consciously try to hit that 100-point mark, or score 40-plus in the third quarter.”
Starring in the triumph was Scotty Hopson, who went a perfect 3-for-3 from four-point range and finished with 46 points and eight rebounds.
(C) PBA Images
“He’s been everywhere. He’s a vet. He provided the needed leadership, the inspiration to the guys,” offered Atienza of the former NBA pro.
Alec Stockton led the locals with 21 points, including 13 in the third alone. Deschon Winston supplied 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals, while Justin Arana tallied a 13-6-5 stat line in the win.
Converge will have a quick turnaround as it takes on Magnolia (0-1) next on Friday, 7:30, still at the Big Dome to try to go 2-0 in Group A.
Pringle, on the other hand, finished with 19 points, spiked by a pair of 27-footers, and seven assists to lead Terrafirma in the crushing defeat.
Returning import Antonio Hester had 18 points and 10 rebounds with four assists. Another comebacking figure in Kevin Ferrer had 18 as well in his first game back from an Achilles tear, while Standhardinger supplied 17.
Juami Tiongson managed to finish with 10 points as he struggled to shoot from the floor, going just 3-of-14 that included three misses from four.
Terrafirma, still adjusting with Hester in tow after getting used to Brandon Edwards during the offseason before going down with an injury, will see action on Friday, too, against NorthPort in a clash of 0-1 teams.
The FiberXers and the Dyip will face each other in a rematch on September 14, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Scores:
Converge 127 – Hopson 46, Stockton 21, Winston 14, Arana 13, Racal 9, Santos 5, Delos Santos 4, Melecio 4, Maagdenberg 3, Andrade 3, Fornilos 2, Nieto 2, Ambohot 0, Caralipio 0, Fleming 0.
Terrafirma 95 – Pringle 19, Hester 18, Ferrer 18, Standhardinger 17, Tiongson 10, Ramos 5, Carino 4, Hanapi 2, Hernandez 2, Olivario 0, Cahilig 0.
Quarterscores: 34-25, 53-49, 100-67, 127-95.
