Scotty Hopson hit the first game-winning four in the PBA to lift Converge past TNT, 96-95, to bounce back in the Season 49 Governors’ Cup, Tuesday.
The FiberXers clearly intended to use the 27-footer in a bid to wipe out a 92-95 deficit and the American winger delivered, pulling the trigger from the right wing to give themselves the lead with exactly four seconds left in the game.
He then prevented Rondae Hollis-Jefferson from having a good look on the other end, and they went on to complete the rally from as much as 16 down — much to the delight of the crowd inside the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Defense, offense, and everything in between—Scotty Hopson does it all to push Converge past TNT
#PBA2024
@JustineBacnis/ Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/SnwShD4Dpk
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) August 27, 2024
“Without the four-point line, we’re going to overtime, but I don’t know about our chances,” said interim head coach Franco Atienza.
Hopson finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds as Converge redeemed itself from a 105-93 defeat at the hands of Magnolia last Friday.
Delivering solidly as well were Deschon Winston and Justin Arana as they had 13 and 12 points, respectively, and grabbed seven boards each.
Kevin Racal continued his fine play with 12 points, spiked by a pair of triples, while Alx Cabagnot chipped in 10 markers in the hard-fought win.
Those four helped Hopson most especially in the second-half assault, which saw them overhaul a 56-40 halftime deficit and seize an 86-83 lead with 2:23 to go in the fourth, setting up the see-saw encounter.
Hollis-Jefferson did give TNT the lead back by making all four of his free throws in two separate trips inside the last 29.2. But Hopson happened, firing from 27 feet confidently and against the defense of Glenn Khobuntin.
“When it’s crunch time, you know, I’m just kinda used to those situations. I’ve been in them all my whole career, and in situations like that, I just get calm and allow my instincts to take over. Tonight, I made a big shot,” said Hopson.
Hollis-Jefferson finished with 32 also, alongside 15 rebounds and six assists with two steals and blocks, to lead TNT, which fell to 2-1 in Group A.
Calvin Oftana was the only other double-digit scorer for the Tropang Giga with 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting from three and 10 rebounds in the loss.
The Scores:
Converge 96 – Hopson 32, Winston 14, Arana 13, Racal 12, Cabagnot 10, Stockton 8, Santos 5, Delos Santos 2, Ambohot 0, Andrade 0, Caralipio 0, Nieto 0.
TNT 95 – Hollis-Jefferson 32, Oftana 22, Castro 8, Aurin 7, Khobuntin 7, Nambatac 6, Heruela 5, Erram 5, Pogoy 3, Payawal 0.
Quarterscores: 16-29, 40-53, 64-70, 96-95.
