CONVERGE finally caught a big fish, beating no less than defending champion TNT, 97-92, on Wednesday in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The FiberXers improved to 3-6 after an important victory over the Tropang 5G to get them back on track in the quarterfinal race. Their previous victories were at the expense of cellar dwellers Macau and Titan Ultra.
READ Chot says TNT 'a team of shooters that can't shoot' in loss to Converge
Converge is now at 10th place just one game behind eighth placer San Miguel (4-5).
“Nothing to lose for us. We need to fight, fight, fight, believe that we can win this game. Nakita niyo naman yung mga bata, yung chemistry nandoon,” said Converge coach Delta Pineda.
Converge snapped TNT’s three-game winning streak, pulling down the Tropang 5G to 5-3 in their first game against former star Mikey Williams.
Justin Arana capped off his splendid performance with a short stab with 20.9 seconds left for a 96-90 lead. Arana had 21 points and 10 rebounds while battling TNT import Bol Bol inside the paint.
Converge rode on a 26-11 second quarter to get in front, 41-30. The lead later swelled to 45-30 early in the third, the biggest of the game.
Juan Gomez de Liano had 16 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, while Alec Stockton added 13 points.
Williams scored 13 points including two threes that ignited a 10-4 closing run to the third after TNT came within two, 59-57.
Bol had 32 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks, but was 0-for-5 from threes and 0-for-2 from fours. As a team, TNT only went 3-of-28 from threes and 1-of-6 from fours.
The scores:
Converge 97 – Arana 21, Gomez de Liano 16, Stockton 13, Williams 13, Abueva 9, Muyang 8, Concepcion 6, Kelley 4, Baltazar 3, Garcia 2, Policarpio 2.
TNT 92 – Bol 32, Ganuelas-Rosser 14, Heading 13, Oftana 12, Pogoy 12, Nambatac 5, Williams 2, Ferrer 2, Castro 0, Nava 0, Nieto 0, Khobuntin 0, Galinato 0, Aurin 0.
Quarters: 15-19; 41-30; 69-61; 97-92.
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