By REYNALD MAGALLON
Converge bucked a slow start and pulled away in the final frame to frustrate Phoenix, 116-105, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Jordan Heading orchestrated the attack while Alec Stockton put on the finishing touches for the FiberXers who recovered from a double-digit deficit in the first quarter to notch their first win streak of the conference for a 4-2 slate.
Heading did it on both ends of the floor, dropping 21 points while also dishing out six assists to go with five steals as he led the balanced attack from Converge which had five other players scoring in double figures.
Stockton poured seven of his 14 points in the fourth quarter as the FiberXers uncorked a 9-0 spurt that turned a tight 95-94 lead into a huge 104-94 advantage in the waning minutes.
Import Cheick Diallo had his share with 21 points and 16 rebounds while Bryan Santos and Schonny Winston had 16 apiece.
BJ Andrade added 11 while top overall pick Justine Baltazar still searching for his footing with only six points but more than made up for it on the boards with 13 rebounds.
The FiberXers actually started out flat in the contest as the Fuel Masters, fresh off their first win when they upsetted the NorthPort Batang Pier, came out guns blazing with a 20-2 run.
Heading, Diallo and Santos then took turns in rallying Converge back into the contest before finally taking control in the final frame behind the efforts of Stockton.
Import Donovan Smith dominated inside with 30 points – 16 of which he poured in the opening frame – along with 18 rebounds to pace Phoenix which slid to a 1-5 record.
Meantime, TNT made sure to end the year on the high after fending off Blackwater, 109-93.
The Tropang Giga used a balanced attack with Jayson Castro, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana and Rey Nambatac taking turns to pounce on the Sedrick Barefield-less Bossing and improve their record to an even 2-2 just before the year turns.
Castro, the Finals MVP of the last conference, announced his return from a three-game absence with an efficient showing of 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting to go with two assists and three steals in just 17 minutes of play.
He had 11 of his total in the first half where the TNT seized control and never looked back from there to notch its second straight win after a slow start that saw the team drop the first two games.
Hollis-Jefferson scattered 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists while Nambatac and Oftana had 19 and 18, respectively.
TNT, just like in the last conference, turned to its defense and limited Blackwater import George King to just 28 points.
The high-scoring import was averaging 39 points prior to the contest.
