ALEC Stockton drained a buzzer-beating jumper as Converge overcame a 27-point deficit to defeat San Miguel, 114-112, on Monday in Game Three and stay alive in their PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup quarterfinal series.
The FiberXers faced a 83-56 third-quarter deficit and were still down, 83-66, entering the fourth before fighting back to finally capture a win and extend the series to a Game Four on Friday, also at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Beermen still lead the best-of-five series, 2-1.
Stockton buried the game-winning shot over CJ Perez to atone for a foul he committed against Marcio Lassiter while the SMB guard was attempting a three-point shot that led to three free throws to tie the match at 112-112.
Stockton's buzzer-beater became possible after the Converge guard stayed in the game when a flagrant foul penalty two called on him in the first quarter was downgraded to a penalty one after a review.
READ Officiating under microscope anew after downgrade of Stockton F2
Stockton was initially called for a F2 for an elbow to the jaw of Kris Rosales at the 0.6-second mark of the first quarter, but eventually stayed in the game after the referees changed the call.
Stockton finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists for the FiberXers.
Still, it was a collective effort for the back-to-the-wall FiberXers, with Justin Arana finishing with 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Jalen Jones adding 17 points. Bryan Santos was on fire in the final quarter, scoring 12 of his 15 points.
“It’s still far. Isa pa lang ito. It’s one of the three. It’s hard to beat that team three straight. But we will take it one game muna,” said Converge coach Franco Atienza.
EJ Anosike had 39 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Perez added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Beermen in the defeat.
The scores:
Converge 114 – Arana 23, Stockton 20, Jones 17, Santos 15, Caralipio 11, Winston 10, Cabagnot 8, Nieto 7, Delos Santos 2, Ambohot 1, Andrade 0.
San Miguel 112 – Anosike 39, Perez 18, Lassiter 14, Fajardo 12, Romeo 12, Ross 6, Rosales 6, Trollano 3, Cruz 2, Brondial 0.
Quarters: 20-27; 44-53; 66-87; 114-112.
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