CONVERGE lived up to its billing, avoiding a setback at the start of its PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup by shaking off a fighting Macau Black Knights side, 102-94, on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The FiberXers came out with a blazing finish behind the heroics of Alec Stockton and Mikey Williams, who played the entire fourth quarter in his first game in the pro league after a five-year sabbatical.
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Stockton brought the energy for Converge with 18 points and six steals. He also scored the game-tying basket and the FiberXers never looked back from there.
“Etong mga bata, dumepensa ng husto kanina nung fourth quarter,” said Converge coach Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda. “‘Yung transition, steals, ‘yun ang nagdala sa amin sa fourth quarter. Medyo deep ‘yung bench namin, fresh legs ‘yung pumalit kaya they played good defense.”
A dunk by Kylor Kelley followed by a lay-up by Stockton tied the count at 92. Kelley also had a lay-up with 4:15 remaining to reclaim the lead for good.
Archie Concepcion had 16 points including 12 in the second half to also help the FiberXers’ cause.
Kelley had impressive numbers in his PBA debut with 12 points, 19 rebounds, and four blocks for the FiberXers.
Jenning Leung had 22 points, Phoenix Shackleford had 20 points, and Damian Chongqui added 19 points but the Black Knights were unable to protect their lead that reached as high as 11 points, 62-51.
The scores:
Converge 102 – Stockton 18, Concepcion 16, Arana 15, Baltazar 14, Policarpio 13, Kelley 12, Gomez de Liano 8, Garcia 4, Clemente 2, Muyang 0, Reyson 0, Williams 0.
Macau Black Knights 94 – Leung 22, Shackelford 20, Chongqui 19, Mitchell 18, Cao 7, Lao 6, Lu 2, Sun 0, Li 0, Chao 0.
Quarters: 27-19; 49-53; 79-82; 102-94.
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