ANTIPOLO - Juan Gomez de Liano led Converge's pullaway in the fourth quarter as it overcame Magnolia, 114-97, on Friday in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center
Gomez de Liano had 27 points and nailed a four-point shot during a 10-2 run that pushed the FiberXers ahead, 92-82, on the way to the win that enabled them to NLEX and Rain or Shine at a league-best 6-2 win-loss.
Converge also clinched a spot in the quarterfinals with the victory - also his first against older brother Javi in the PBA.
Juan GDL actually had 14 points in the second half, taking charge after Converge trailed, 50-42, at the break.
Alec Stockton added 23 points, while Justine Baltazar had 19 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, and one block for the FiberXers, who have now won three in a row in a stretch that included a victory over Barangay Ginebra.
Converge also showed no signs of rust after the Ginebra game that was played on November 14 before the league took a respite to give way to the Gilas Pilipinas stint in the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers.
“Nag-trabaho ng mabigat ang mga bata. I only gave them three days rest after our last game. Then, after nun, ‘yung disiplina sa practice, nandoon talaga lahat. Hindi kami nag-break ng matagal. Kayod marino itong mga ‘to,” said Converge coach Dennis Pineda.
Justin Arana, however, suffered an ankle sprain late in the game, and had to be assisted on his way back to the bench.
Converge’s spoiled the offensive explosion of Zavier Lucero, who scored a career-high 31 points in the Magnolia defeat.
The Hotshots led, 48-35, but failed to sustain their form to go down to 5-3.
The scores:
Converge 114 – Gomez de Liano 27, Stockton 23, Baltazar 19, Concepcion 11, Winston 10, Arana 9, Garcia 7, Muyang 6, Caralipio 2, Javillonar 0, Racal 0, Santos 0, Delos Santos 0.
Magnolia 97 – Lucero 31, Lastimosa 13, Gomez de Liano 10, Barroca 10, Laput 8, Lee 7, Eriobu 7, Dela Rosa 5, Koon 4, Sangalang 2.
Quarters: 19-27; 42-50; 78-77; 114-97.
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