STAGE one of Converge's turnaround bid completed.
The FiberXers started their redemption tour with a successful entry to the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup quarterfinals highlighted by a strong finishing kick in the group stage.
The league's youngest squad, which logged a measly three wins in all of Season 48, ended the group stage preliminaries with a fourth straight victory that it pulled off at the expense of Magnolia, 89-82, Monday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The streak-extending W put Converge at 6-4 for the No. 3 seeding in the Group A behind topnotcher TNT (8-2) and No. 2 Meralco (7-3) while relegating the Hotshots (5-5) to No. 4.
As A-3, the FiberXers drew Group B's second-ranked team, San Miguel Beer (6-4), in the best-of-five quarterfinals while sending the A-4 Hotshots to a showdown with Group A's No. 1 team Rain or Shine (7-2 as of posting time).
Sponsored content:
"We chopped off our goals, little parts, the first one being making the quarters. Right now, we somehow got that but it doesn't end here," said coach Franco Atienza.
"Next would be playing the playoffs. Medyo malaking challenge 'yun against San Miguel. We want to build on what we're doing right. We finished strong in the elims, hopefully we carry it over and do better (in the playoffs)," he added.
Jalen Jones scattered 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the way for Converge, which ripped the game apart with a 48-32 salvo in the second half.
Justin Arana muscled his way to 12 and 12 as Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston chipped in 10 apiece in bringing this victory home for the FiberXers.
Calvin Abueva and rookie Pedro Alfaro shot 11 apiece for Magnolia, which drew only five markers and seven boards from debuting import Rayvonte Rice.
Sponsored content:
The Hotshots led by as many as 15 early on but faded in the finish in this elims-wrapping game that saw Paul Lee sitting it out due to ankle issues and the rest of the starters getting limited minutes in preparation for the playoffs.(OL)
The scores:
First Game
Converge 89 - Jones 27, Arana 12, Stockton 10, Winston 10, Caralipio 9, Santos 8, Andrade 7, Delos Santos 4, Melecio 2, Cabagnot 0, Ambohot 0, Fornilos 0, Fleming 0, Nieto 0, Zaldivar 0.
Magnolia 82 - Abueva 11, Alfaro 11, Sangalang 8, Balanza 8, Eriobu 8, Laput 7, Ahanmisi 6, Rice 5, Mendoza 5, Barroca 5, Reavis 2, Escoto 2, Lucero 2, Dionisio 2, Dela Rosa 0.
Quarterscores: 18-27, 41-50, 73-68, 89-82
