ALEC Stockton didn’t take his highly physical match-up against Chris Banchero personally in their thrilling encounter last Wednesday in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Stockton and Banchero got into it not just once but twice during the course of the heated match which Converge won over Meralco, 105-97.
The Fil-Am guard of course, got the better end of the personal duel as he scored 27 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in the win that moved the team to its first playoffs appearance in the last two seasons.
Stockton said the encounter is just a clash between two players both wanting to win.
“We’re competitors and nobody wants to back down and everybody wants to win,” said the Converge guard of the near skirmish he had with the Fil-Italian veteran.
“It was very competitive. They kept fighting back and kept taking their punches as well.”
Stockton scored seven of the FiberXers’ last nine points, mostly against Banchero, including a step back 3 that gave Converge the lead for good, 99-97, with 1:20 remaining.
READ: Clutch Alec Stockton powers Converge to big win over Meralco
The former Far Eastern University guard though, was later called for a technical foul following a second motion against Banchero.
But the two were later seen acknowledging each other when the game was over.
“You just got to keep your best foot forward,” said Stockton as the 5-4 FiberXers hope to clinch a berth in the playoffs with a win over Magnolia in its final group stage play.
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