MANILA – Converge FiberXers overcame a jittery start to score a lopsided 113-84 victory over NorthPort Batang Pier in the 2023 PBA on Tour last night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Adrian Wong top-scored with 23 points, including seven three-pointers, while Mike Nieto had a near triple-double showing of 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists as the FiberXers finished their campaign with a 6-5 win-loss slate.
Jeron Teng drilled four triples to end up with 17 points, Justin Arana contributed double-double 15 points and 10 rebounds, Kevin Racal finished with 13 and playing assistant coach McJour Luib had 10 assists, five points and five rebounds for Converge.
Holding to a slim 24-23 lead after the first quarter, the FiberXers went on a huge run late in the second quarter behind outside shots by Wong and inside connections from Arana for a 55-43 halftime lead.
Converge, which were without head coach Aldin Ayo in the match, continued its scoring rampage in the second half via three-pointers from Wong, Nieto and Teng as the lead reached its largest at 31 points.
Mer Jesper Ayaay finished with 19 points, John Michael Calma had double-double 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Ilonggo Paul Zamar ended with 17 markers as the Batang Pier dropped to 5-6.
In the first game, Meralco Bolts averted a fourth quarter meltdown to score a 103-95 victory over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. The Bolts finished with a 7-4 record for third place, while the Painters ended at second with 8-3 mark.
After seeing their once 12-point lead turned to a 89-92 deficit, the Bolts got a three-point from Aaron Black and an inside conversion from Negrense Raymar Jose for a 94-92 advantage.
Meralco’s Allein Maliksi then canned two free throws from an unsportsmanlike foul by Rain or Shine’s Rey Mark Belo before the latter drilled a three-pointer and back-to-back inside hits to seal the win for the Bolts.
Jose finished with double-double 22 points and 18 rebounds, Maliksi and Raymond Almazan added 18 markers apiece, while Black ended with triple-double 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
BOX SCORE:
CONVERGE 113 – Wong 23, Nieto 19, Teng 17, Arana 15, Racal 13, Ambohot 8, Luib 5, Guinto 5, Ebona 5, Zaldivar 3, Stockton 0.
NORTHPORT 84 – Ayaay 19, Calma 18, Zamar 17, Munzon 9, Santos 9, Salado 5, Comboy 3, Bauzon 3, Gabriel 1, Balagasay 0, Yu 0, Bulawan 0, Sobrevega 0.
Quarterscores: 24-23, 55-43, 86-66, 113-84./PN
