JUSTINE Baltazar scored a game-winning hook shot with 14.9 seconds left and Converge defeated Phoenix, 100-98, on Friday in the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament at the USEP Gym.
Baltazar made his only field goal of the game to give the FiberXers the lead which they held on to until the final buzzer as Tyler Tio missed a three-point shot and a floater in the final two attempts of Phoenix.
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Converge improved to 1-1, while Phoenix dropped to 0-2.
Justin Arana had 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Bryan Santos had 15 points including three free throws with 40.9 seconds left to tie the game at 98 after he was fouled attempting a three-point shot.
Converge will battle Blackwater in its final game of the preliminaries on Saturday, 5 p.m. at the USEP Gym.
King Caralipio also contributed to Converge’s win by scoring 14 points, as Alec Stockton added 13 points for the FiberXers before fouling out.
Ken Tuffin had 18 points on 4-of-5 shooting from threes in the loss of Phoenix, which will face NLEX on Saturday, 7 p.m. in the tournament being aired over the Madayaw Sports Davao Facebook page with with Rey Andrew Alonsagay and coach Rocky Mejos serving as commentators.
Matthew Daves had 14 points, as Kai Ballungay had a near double-double of nine points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix.
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