By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – Converge FiberXers wasted an early double-digit lead before pulling off a 107-99 victory over NorthPort Batang Pier at the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Leading by as many as 16 points in the first half, the FiberXers struggled with their offense in the second half, allowing the Batang Pier to catch up and take a 92-84 lead in the fourth quarter.
NorthPort were still ahead at 99-95 before Converge responded with a 12-0 scoring blast — a three-pointer by Bryan Santos, a three-point play by Alec Stockton, and conversions from Deschon Winston, Stockton and Scotty Hopson — to snatch the win.
Stockton top-scored for the FiberXers with 21 points, while Winston had a near double-double of 17 points and nine rebounds as they ended with a two-game slide for a 3-4 win-loss slate.
Santos contributed 15 markers, including back-to-back triples late in the fourth quarter, while Hopson and Kevin Racal also submitted double-digit offense with 12 and 10, respectively.
Venky Jois finished with a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds, Arvin Tolentino added 21 markers, while Joshua Munzon and William Navarro had 13 and 11, respectively, as the Batang Pier dropped to 3-4.
On Tuesday night, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (4-2) squandered another double-digit lead before pulling off a 112-98 victory over first round tormentor Blackwater Bossing (3-4).
After leading by as many as 17 points in the second period, the Gin Kings saw their lead cut to 67-70 by a furious fight back by the Bossing, but Earl Scottie Thompson stepped up for Ginebra with consecutive basket to widen the lead to 91-83.
The Gin Kings continued their run in the fourth quarter behind George Isaac Go, Rhon Jhay Abarrientos, Justin Brownlee, and Aljon Mariano to preserve a double-digit advantage the rest of the way.
Thompson tallied a triple-double of 21 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds to lead the Gin Kings, Brownlee and Abarrientos had 20 and 15, respectively, while Stephen Holt and Japeth Aguilar ended with 14 apiece for the Gin Kings./PN
CONVERGE 107 – Stockton 21, Winston 17, Santos 15, Hopson 12, Racal 10, Delos Santos 9, Ambohot 6, Nieto 6, Cabagnot 5, Arana 4, Andrade 2, Vigan-Fleming 0, Fornilos 0, Caralipio 0, Zaldivar 0.
NORTHPORT 99 – Jois 24, Tolentino 21, Munzon 13, Navarro 11, Jalalon 9, Nelle 7, Cuntapay 5, Amores 4, Tratter 3, Flores 2, Yu 0, Bulanadi 0, Onwubere 0.
Quarterscores: 29-26, 57-43, 71-71, 107-99.
