
Converge takes first win
CONVERGE FiberX is winless no more in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
But the FiberXers, led by former Los Angeles Clippers player Jamil Wilson, needed an extra period to finally notch their first win after six losses.
Wilson finished with a game-high 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as Converge defeated Terrafirma, 103-94, in overtime at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Wilson, the 6-7 forward from Wisconsin, who took the place of Tom Vodanovich, went 11-of-24 in 48 minutes on the floor in only his second game for the FiberXers.
The 33-year-old Wilson was at the forefront of Converge’s game-changing 11-0 run in overtime, turning an 88-90 deficit into an unassailable 99-90 lead.
“It was tough. Everybody was disappointed, everybody was getting frustrated because of the results of our past games,” said Converge coach Aldin Ayo. “But we just continued preparing, we just continued practicing hard.”
Ayo, however, said the FIberXers need to buld on the momentum of their breakthrough win.”
“Hindi pa ako nabubunutan ng tinik. It’s still 1-6 so in a way disappointed pa rin kami, frustrated pa rin kami, masama pa rin pakiramdam namin sa mga talo. Pero we’re not going to stop. There’s (still) hope. We’re gonna continue improving and we’re gonna continue building this team.
Deschon Winston added 17 points and six rebounds and Justine Arana conributed 14 points and eight rebounds for Converge, which led by as many as 11 points.
Juami Tiongson carried thr fight for Terrafirma with 28 points on 8-of-21 shooting from the field and 10-of-10 from the free throw line in 40 minutes of play for the Johnedel Cardel-mentored Dyip..
Stephen Holt addd 14 points, while Javier Gomez De Liano contributed a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebound.
De Liano banked in a triple that tied the count at 88-all and eventually forced overtime.
But import Thomas Hugo De Thaey managed only 12 points on a dismal 4-of-17 shooting while dealing with a possible Achilles injury.
De Thaey, however, had a game-high 18 rebounds for the Dyip, who dropped to 2-5 in a tie with NLEX.
The scores:
Converge (103) — Wilson 32, Winston 17, Arana 14, Stockton 9, Nieto 7, Racal 6, Delos Santos 6, Wong 5, Balanza 4, Santos 3, Ambohot 0.
Terrafirma (94) — Tiongson 28, Holt 14, Gomez de Liano 13, De Thaey 12, Ramos 6, Alolino 5, Camson 5, Carino 4, Cahilig 3, Calvo 2, Miller 2, Go 0, Daquioag 0.
Quarterscores; 18-22, 43-38, 60-63, 88-88, 103-94.
Games Friday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. — Blackwater vs. TNT
8 p.m.– San Miguel vs. Ginebra