MANILA – Converge FiberXers overcame a flat start to score a 116-105 victory over Phoenix Fuel Masters in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Down 2-20 early in the game, the FiberXers slowly clawed their way back until they took a 95-90 advantage early in the fourth quarter behind conversions from Alec Stockton and Deschon Winston.
The Fuel Masters made their last push at 94-95, but the FiberXers responded with baskets from Justine Baltazar, Stockton, and Jordan Heading as the lead stretched back to double-digits at 110-89.
Heading finished with 21 points, including two three-point conversions, to go with six assists, five steals, and three rebounds to be named Player of the Game as the FiberXers improved to a 4-2 win-loss slate.
Cheick Diallo added a double-double of 21 points and 16 rebounds, Winston and Bryan Santos contributed 16 markers apiece, while Stockton and Bryan Andrade ended with 14 and 11, respectively, for Converge.
Donovan Smith finished with a double-double of 30 points and 18 rebounds, RJ Jazul added 20 markers, while Tyler Tio, Jason Perkins, and Ricci Rivero had 13, 12, and 11, respectively, as the Fuel Masters dropped to a 1-5 record.
On Wednesday evening, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings overcame a fourth quarter uprising by Terrafirma Dyip to pull off a 114-98 victory and improve to a 3-1 record. They Dyip remained winless in six outings.
Leading by as many as 22 points in the third period, the Gin Kings were surprised by a huge fightback by the Dyip in the final quarter to cut the deficit to 94-99 on a three-point play by Vic Manuel.
Justin Brownlee knocked down four straight free throws, Earl Scottie Thompson completed a three-point play as the Gin Kings increased the lead back to double-digits and never looked back.
Brownlee finished with a conference-high of 49 points to go with 12 rebounds and six assists, while Rhon Jay Abarrientos and Jeth Troy Rosario added 18 and 17 markers, respectively, for the Gin Kings./PN
