IMPORT-less Meralco subdued Converge, 96-89, Sunday night in the PBA On Tour in Santiago City, Isabela.
The Bolts outscored the FiberXers, 19-8 in the final five minutes to take the win even in the absence of import Jordan Varnado and Gilas Pilipinas stalwarts Chris Newsome and Brandon Bates.
Jvee Mocon hit a three pointer to spark that telling run and put Meralco in front for good, 78-77.
CJ Cansino finished with 21 points and Mocon with 20 for the Bolts, who managed to pull off the win against a Converge team that played with import Cameron Clark.
A Banchero 3 tied the game at 75 before John Lloyd Clemente gave Converge its final taste of the lead at 77-75.
Then the Bolts went on that huge scoring spree, which Banchero later capped with a clutch 4 for a 94-85 cushion inside the final two minutes.
Converge played without big men Justin Arana and Justin Baltazar, who are with the Gilas Pilipinas team in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
Jonnel Policarpio took the scoring honors for the FiberXers with 15 points, while Mikey Williams and Calvin Abueva each had 10 points.
Coming off his impressive stint with the Philippine team in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, Juan Gomez De Liano suited up for Converge in the tune up match at the Santiago Sports Arena, and also finished with 10 points.
His four-point shot early in the third capped a 12-0 Converge run at the start of the second half, putting the team in front, 58-51.
The Bolts then rallied back midway in the fourth period behind the hot shooting of Banchero and Mocon.
Converge also missed the services of head coach Delta Pineda as lead deputy Franco Atienza called the shots for the team.
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