CONVERGE leaned on the splendid efforts of Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston in the second half to beat Rain or Shine, 107-97, Wednesday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena.
Stockton scattered 19 of his points and Winston 15 in the last two quarters, enabling the FiberXers to fully take control of the match and surge on to their third straight win that gave them a 5-2 record.
Stockton and Winston both wound up with 24 points and led those who did not let Justin Arana's 18 points and 17 rebounds and Justine Baltazar's own double-double of 13 and 22 go to waste.
For Converge coach Franco Atienza, his team's defense was the major factor that enabled it to hold down Rain or Shine, which was coming off a 128-point game and went into the match averaging 112 points an outing.
"Before this game Rain or Shine was the No. 1 scoring team, bar none, and 'yung pace na inilalaro nila sobrang bilis. They dictated the tempo, especially in the first half... sobrang bilis ng game," said Atienza.
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"I'm just glad that our players were able to turn it around. We resisted the temptation to go fast. Somehow, we tried to control the pace," added Atienza. "We were able to limit them below 100 points. What made it possible tonight was our defense."
Indeed, the Elasto Painters put up a gallant stand and alternately rode the shoulders of Leonard Santillan and Gian Mamuyac to not only make it a close contest but also take a 71-68 lead at around the halfway point of the third period.
Then the FiberXers' control off the shaded lane that resulted in the E-Painters opting for outside shots took their toll while Stockton spearheaded a prolonged 20-7 exchange that gave the former an 88-78 lead.
Rain or Shine would come no closer than six points after that.
Santillan finished with a game-high 26 points but only 10 in the last three quarters while Mamuyac wound up with 25 for Rain or Shine, which saw its two-game winning streak cut short and dropped to an even 2-2 slate.
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Kieth Datu, who saw action in only the first six minutes of Rain or Shine's conference-opening game and sidelined in the next two outings due to a calf strain, finally returned to action and chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds.
But with Beau Belga (vertigo) and Caelan Tiongson (back spasms) still unable to play, the E-Painters got clobbered off the boards, 40-62, and in points in the paint, 38-56.(NC)
The Scores :
CONVERGE 107 - Winston 24, Stockton 24, Arana 18, Baltazar 13, Racal 9, Suerte 7, Caralipio 5, Garcia 4, Santos 2, Corpuz 1, Delos Santos 0, Nermal 0, Ambohot 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 97 - Santillan 26, Mamuyac 25, Nocum 11, Lemetti 6, Norwood 5, Caracut 5, Asistio 5, Clarito 2, Escandor 1, Malonzo 0.
QUARTERS: 25-31, 53-54, 84-78, 107-97
