MANILA, Philippines – Converge kept its winning streak going in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup after a come-from-behind 98-91 win over Barangay Ginebra at the Batangas City Coliseum on Saturday, December 21.
Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston took turns in the second half as the FiberXers fought back from a 17-point hole en route to their third straight win.
Stockton finished with 22 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds, pouring 17 points in an inspired third-quarter turnaround which saw Converge swing a 40-57 deficit to a 73-70 lead.
Draining 6 of his 10 field goal attempts, including 3 three-pointers, in the third frame, Stockton outscored the entire Gin Kings, who were held to just 13 points on a 25% clip in the period.
Winston then picked up where Stockton left off, scattering 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter as the FiberXers dealt Ginebra its second loss in three games.
Import Cheick Diallo produced 19 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 assists, including a timely three-point play with under two minutes remaining that gave Converge a 95-88 cushion.
Maverick Ahanmisi answered with his own and-one play to keep the Gin Kings within a single possession, 91-95, but Ginebra doomed itself with a turnover on the next possession.
Stockton then took the FiberXers home, setting up big man Justin Arana for a reverse layup that made it 97-91 then sank a free throw for the final tally.
Arana posted 11 points and 7 rebounds, while Jordan Heading added 13 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds in the win.
Top pick Justine Baltazar chimed in 6 points and 11 rebounds for Converge, which dominated the battle for the boards by hauling down 57 rebounds to the Gin Kings’ 36.
Justin Brownlee churned out 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in the loss that marked the second for Ginebra in the last three games.
Brownlee, a three-time Best Import, exploded for 22 points in the first half, but he lacked sufficient support as he accounted for half of the Gin Kings’ second-half output, scoring 17 of their 34 points in the last two periods.
Maverick Ahanmisi and RJ Abarrientos had 15 and 11 points, respectively, for Ginebra, which dropped to 3-2.
Converge 98 – Stockton 22, Diallo 19, Winston 15, Heading 13, Arana 11, Santos 8, Baltazar 6 Racal 3, Nieto 1, Caralipio 0, Delos Santos 0, Andrade 0.
Barangay Ginebra 91 – Brownlee 39, Ahanmisi 15, Abarrientos 11, Thompson 8, Tenorio 5, Rosario 5, Mariano 4, Adamos 2, Cu 2, Holt 0
Quarters: 21-23, 40-57, 73-70, 98-91.
– Rappler.com
