MANILA – JeoAmbohot caught fire offensively as Converge FiberXers hacked out a 109-84 victory over TNT Tropang Giga in the 2023 PBA on Tour on late Wednesday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The former Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights center exploded for 31 points, including eight three-point conversions, to go with eight rebounds as the FiberXers scored back-to-back wins to improve to 3-3.
JeronTeng added 19 markers, Justin Arana contributed double-double 18 points and 14 rebounds, while JerrickBalanza and Mike Nieto chipped in 14 and 10 markers, respectively, for Converge.
The FiberXers trailed early in the first quarter before taking a 15-13 lead on a basket by McJourLuib before it widened to 28-21 to end the quarter on conversions from Balanza and Teng.
Converge continued its run in the second quarter with three straight triples from Teng, Alec Stockton and Ambohot for a 37-23 lead. It went up to 55-42 at the half as Ambohot added two more outside shots.
The Tropang Giga still had no answers to FiberXers’ offense in the third quarter as the lead reached its largest at 76-47 behind consecutive baskets from Racal and Arana and another triple from Ambohot.
TNT managed to cut the deficit to 19 points early in the fourth period but Converge responded with three consecutive three-pointers from Ambohot to widen the lead to 94-71.
“Yung mga coaches naminsinasabihanakonahuwagmatakotnamagkamali, itirakolang,” said Ambohot, who is also drawing inspiration from his newborn child just a few days ago.
“KahitnasabihinnaPBA on Tour langito ay dapat pa din naming seryosohinpalagiangmgalaroditokasidito kami nakakabuong chemistry eh,” added the No.4 overall pick in last year’s PBA Rookie Draft.
Glenn Khobuntin finished with 22 points, while Frederick Tungcab and Carl Bryan Cruz contributed 15 and 13 markers, respectively, as the Tropang Giga remained win-less in four matches.
BOX SCORE:
CONVERGE 109 – Ambohot 31, Teng 19, Arana 18, Balanza 14, Nieto 10, Racal 8, Stockton 5, Luib 2, Ebona 2, Mendoza 0, Zaldivar 0.
TNT 84 – Khobuntin 22, Tungcab 15, Cruz 13, Marcelo 9, Cuntapay 9, Varilla 7, Jopia 4, Ganuelas-Rosser 3, Alfaro 2.
Quarterscores: 28-21, 55-42, 78-57, 109-84./PN
