CONVERGE translated its resolve into game to pull off a 107-99 win over NorthPort Wednesday and snap out of its alarming slide in the PBA Governors' Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The FiberXers unleashed a pivotal 18-3 windup to clamber out of an 89-96 deficit and into the victory that cut short a three-game losing streak and pull level with their victim in Group A with identical 3-4 records.
The way his charges recovered their composure after blowing a 16-point second quarter lead, getting tied at the end of the third period and being led heading to the stretch pleased interim head coach Franco Atienza.
"We started out quite well in the first half, but then 'yung third quarter was our loophole in this game," said Atienza.
"Basically, we all know na we're up against a really fast team, No. 1 in fastbreak, No. 2 turnover points and No. 1 in steals. So we just wanted to slow the game down somehow, but you cannot really keep a good team at bay for so long," added Atienza.
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"It just so happened that in the fourth quarter we had our resolve. We were able to get a grind out win."
A huge chunk of the credit goes to Converge's locals in a game where import Scotty Hopson was limited to just 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting and star center Justin Arana chipping in only four points before fouling out.
Mainly pointing the FiberXers home was Schonny Winston, who sparked the charge with three straight points, and Bryan Santos and Alec Stockton, stringing up six points each to fuel the run.
"We're glad that our locals... stepped up, but more so on the defensive end," noted Atienza.
Hopson did haul down 14 rebounds and issued six assists with Stockton taking the team scoring honors with 21 and Winston tossing in 17 points and nine rebounds and Santos 15 off a total five triples.
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Venky Jois led all scorers with 24 points on top of 14 boards and Arvin Tolentino had his own double-double of 21 and 10 to lead NorthPort.
The Batang Pier did get awarded a franchise-best 57 free throws, which is also the ninth-most for any team in league history, but could only get 36 points out of those tries. (NC)
The Scores :
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.
QUARTERS: 29-26, 57-43, 71-71, 107-99
