CONVERGE survived its test of character and got the job done despite playing without prolific import Quincy Miller in the final half.
Forced to go All-Filipino after Miller's second-quarter ejection, the FiberXers' locals led by Aljun Melecio stepped up to the plate and secured a 108-84 rout of NLEX Saturday night in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Aljun Melecio rifled in a new career high of 23 points, making 19 of them in the last 24 minutes where the locals held the fort en route to Converge's fifth straight win and 6-2 overall for joint second with Bay Area.
Miller caught fire early and led the FiberXers to an early 26-point tear. But his stint was cut short when he was slapped with a flagrant foul penalty 1 infraction for a landing spot foul on Brandon Ganuelas Rosser with 1:18 left in the second period. This plus his earlier technical foul earlier in the first led to his banishment.
"I just told the players to rely on our system with our main man (Miller) out," said Converge coach Aldin Ayo. "I told them to keep on executing and make sure we stay consistent on defense."
Sponsored content: That's exactly what Melecio and Co. did.
At the end of the third, Converge was still up by 20 big points.
And though NLEX mounted a major uprising that cut the Converge led in half, Melecio fired his booming triples and clutch baskets to spearhead a fiery counter that restored a 21-point spread (99-78).
Melecio, an acquisition from Phoenix, shot 14 in the fourth.
"Mas loose lang ako this game because I know kahit magkamali ako , may tiwala sila coach sa akin. Malaking factor iyun," said Melecio, who reset his career best for the third time in the last four games.
Sponsored content: Miller scored 15 and grabbed nine rebounds in his abbreviated 18-minute stint. Jeron Teng (15) and Justin Arana (12) also did their share offensively while dueling with NLEX import Earl Clark inside.
Clark finished with 15 as he took the backseat to Brandon Ganuelas Rosser who topscored with a personal best 24.
With back-to-back losses, the Road Warriors fell to 3-4. (OL)
The Scores:
Converge 108 - Melecio 24, Miller 15, Teng 14, Arana 12, Tratter 9, Stockton 8, Ambohot 7, Ahanmisi 6, Ilagan 5, Murrell 3, DiGregorio 3, Racal 2.
NLEX 84 - Ganuelas-Rosser 24, Clark 15, Paniamogan 15, Alas 14, Rosales 8, Nieto 8, Chua 0, Miranda 0, Fonacier 0.
Quarters: 34-17, 58-41, 80-60, 108-84
