Converge bled for just six points in the opening quarter but then exploded for 30 in the second and roared on enroute to a 103-96 win over Rain or Shine in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Tuesday.
Interestingly, the FiberXers pulled off the crucial win with import Cheick Diallo playing under the weather, the locals doing the heavy lifting as Converge broke off a four-way logjam at fourth place with Hong Kong Eastern, Barangay Ginebra and Meralco.
Alec Stockton, Jordan Heading and Justin Arana led the way as the FiberXers made a quick turnaround from a loss and jumped two notches up to solo second at 7-3.
NorthPort (7-2) is now ahead by just half game as the Batang Pier dropped their game versus the Meralco Bolts, 94-111, earlier in the night.
It was a big win for coach Franco Atienza and his troops suddenly getting the team in the inside track in the race for the twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
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They pursue it in their last two games in the single-round-robin eliminations versus Blackwater on Jan. 19 and San Miguel Beer on Jan. 24.
"Going to this game, we know Rain or Shine likes to run and they're a good offensive team. Good thing, we're able to limit them below 100," said the Converge mentor.
"It took us a lot para ma-stop sila. Dinala nila kami sa takbuhan, at ganoon din sa ilalim, but good thing really we gained the momentum somewhere in the second," Atienza added.
The FiberXers turned things around on a huge 30-13 salvo in the second period and hung tough in the final half, sending the Elasto Painters from second to seventh place at 5-3 after back-to-back losses.
The E-Painters finished the game sans coach Yeng Guiao who was ejected in the third for technical infractions.
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Stockton poured in 17 of a team-high 21 points in the fourth as Heading and Arana chipped in 17 and 15, respectively.
"I played bad the last time and I wanted to bounce back in this game and give my team a chance to win. That's my mission," said Stockton, playing the fireman's role against ROS' repeated comeback attempts.
Jhonard Clarito and Deon Thompson paced the losing team with 24 and 22, respectively. (SB)
The Scores :
CONVERGE 103 - Stockton 21, Heading 17, Arana 15, Racal 13, Diallo 8, Baltazar 8, Winston 7, Delos Santos 6, Santos 6, Caralipio 2, Ambohot 0, Nieto 0
RAIN OR SHINE 96 - Clarito 24, Thompson 22, Belga 14, Santillan 6, Nocum 7, Asistio 5, Tiongson 5, Ildefonso 2, Norwood 0, Datu 0, Lemetti 0
QUARTERS : 17-30, 47-43, 73-69, 103-96
