MANILA – Aljun Melecio heated up when it mattered the most. Converge FiberXers cruised to a 108-84 triumph over NLEX Road Warriors in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup over the weekend at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
After seeing their 80-60 lead cut to half early in the fourth period, the FiberXers got a free throw and a triple from Alec Stockton to widen the lead to 84-60 before Melecio unloaded consecutive hits to increase it further to 96-76.
The Road Warriors tried to charge back but the FiberXers responded with three-pointers from Melecio and Maverick Ahanmisi for their largest lead of 108-82 via an outside hit from Jeo Ambohot.
Melecio finished the game with 24 points, with 14 coming in the fourth quarter, as the FiberXers notched its fifth consecutive victory to tie Bay Area Dragons at second with 6-2 slate.
Quincy Miller added 15 markers and nine rebounds before being ejected in the second quarter, while Jeron Teng and Justin Arana had 14 and 12 points, respectively, for Converge.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser tallied career-high 24 points, Earl Clark and Philip Paniamogan added 15 markers apiece, while Kevin Alas had 12 points as the Road Warriors dropped to 3-4.
Meanwhile, TNT Tropang Giga returned to their winning ways after hacking out a 121-90 domination of Terrafirma Dyip. The Tropang Giga moved up to 4-4 slate, while the Dyip slumped to 0-8.
The Tropang Giga was scorching to start the game as they erect a 39-23 lead behind the early points by Cameron Oliver, Calvin Oftana and Roger Pogoy but the Dyip countered with a huge run to cut the deficit to 39-45 at the half.
The Tropang Giga regained its shooting touch in the second half as they created separation anew from the Dyip courtesy of Oliver and Rodolfo Alejandro as the lead reached its largest at 36 points.
Oliver finished with double-double 26 points and 15 rebounds Alejandro added conference-high 17 markers, while Oftana and John Paul Erram had 15 and 14, respectively, for the Tropang Giga.
BOX SCORE:
CONVERGE 108 – Melecio 24, Miller 15, Teng 14, Arana 12, Tratter 9, Stockton 8, Ambohot 7, Ahanmisi 6, Ilagan 5, Murrell 3, DiGregorio 3, Racal 2.
NLEX 84 – Ganuelas-Rosser 24, Clark 15, Paniamogan 15, Alas 14, Rosales 8, Nieto 8, Chua 0, Miranda 0, Fonacier 0.
Quarterscores: 34-17, 58-41, 80-60, 108-84./PN
