CONVERGE averted a collapse, bouncing back after losing an 18-point lead to overcome San Miguel, 100-97, on Wednesday night in the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Schonny Winston scored 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting and hit big baskets during two critical runs that preserved the FiberXers' seventh win in 11 games - enough to keep them out of the No. 8 seed in the quarterfinals where a clash with SMB is a possibility.
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Instead of clinching the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals, San Miguel joined Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra at second place on 7-3 win-loss records and all with a game at hand - half a game behind the 8-3 NLEX Road Warriors.
Cjay Perez missed a three-pointer in the final possession of the Beermen that could have sent the game into extra time.
Winston came one shy of tying his career high that he also set against San Miguel during Game 4 of the quarterfinals of the 2024 Governors’ Cup.
Winston had 12 points in the fourth quarter, presiding over an 11-0 blast that got the FiberXers up, 87-85, and again in a 10-0 run that enabled them to regain the lead, 99-93.
The FiberXers nearly squandered a 55-37 deficit after the Beermen outscored them, 31-17, in the third quarter, but showed composure in the end.
“Alam naman natin na perennial title contender (San Miguel). With the performance that they have during the conference and even in the past conferences, it’s a tall order,” said Converge coach Franco Atienza.
"I think we were able to hold them down in the first quarter but we are aware na San Miguel is too good of a team para i-hold mo sa ganun the whole game so we were ready for that comeback," Atienza added.
Justin Arana had 21 points, while JL Delos Santos added 13 points for the FiberXers including a three that was also part of that key run late in the contest.
June Mar Fajardo had 17 points and 23 rebounds, while Perez also had 17 points for the Beermen.
The scores:
Converge 100 – Winston 25, Arana 21, Delos Santos 13, Baltazar 7, Stockton 7, R. Santos 6, B. Santos 6, Suerte 5, Garcia 5, Racal 3, Caralipio 2, Corpuz 0.
San Miguel 97 – Perez 17, Fajardo 17, Tautuaa 14, Tiongson 13, Rosales 11, Cruz 8, Teng 4, Trollano 4, Brondial 3, Cahilig 3, Lassiter 3, Ross 0.
Quarters: 19-12; 53-37; 70-68; 100-97.
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