By REYNALD MEGALLON
Converge gave San Miguel Beer new import Devon Scott a rude welcome to the PBA, squeezing out a 106-102 victory over the defending champion in the 2022 Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Friday, Oct. 21.
The FiberXers saw their 17-point third quarter lead vanish and even trailed by five inside the final five minutes of the game after the Beermen’s strong second half surge. Converge, though, managed to weather the storm thanks to an 11-0 finishing kick that gave them their third win against two losses.
Aljun Melecio finished with a career-high 18 points built on three triples, including the layup that triggered the telling run in the waning minutes as Converge won its third match against two losses.
Quincy Miller struggled but still finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds then connived with Mike DiGregorio and Maverick Ahanmisi to put the dagger to the heart of the Beermen which now fell to a 1-3 win-loss slate.
Jeron Teng added 13 points while DiGregorio and Ahanmisi chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Scott had a sluggish start to his PBA career in the first two quarters but managed to regain his composure in the second half to still finish with 16 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. CJ Perez exploded with 29 points while Mo Tautuaa stepped up to June Mar Fajardo’s absence with 23 points and 10 rebounds – all of which, however, went for naught as SMB absorbed its second straight loss.
Up by 17, 65-48, after a booming trey from Ahanmisi, San Miguel Beer suddenly woke up and unleashed a furious rally that cut the lead down to single digit, 75-68. It was a tug-of-war from there with both team trading baskets before the Beermen got some headway in the final frame with an 11-0 run that turned a 89-95 deficit into a 100-95 advantage.
The scores:
CONVERGE 106 – Miller 24, Melecio 18, Teng 13, DiGregorio 12, Ahanmisi 10, Bulanadi 8, Ilagan 8, Arana 7, Tratter 3, Stockton 3, Hill 0
SAN MIGUEL 102 – Perez 29, Tautua 21, Scott 16, Lassiter 7, Enciso 6, Herndon 6, Manuel 6, Brondial 3, Ross 0
Quarters: 33-24, 59-48, 86-79, 106-102
