Diallo Cheick Diallo of Converfe FiberX challenges Deon Thompson of Rain or Shine. PBA photo

Converge topples Rain or Shine

January 16, 2025 Robert Andaya 161 views
Caracut
Andrei Caracut of Rain or Shine takes a shot. PBA photo

CONVERGE FiberXers overcame a sluggish start and rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 103-96, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Alec Stockton scored 17 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter as the Franco Atienza-mentored FiberXers vaulted into solo second place with a 7-3 win-loss record.

Stockton went 9-of-18 shooting from the floor, and nadded five assists and four rebounds in 28 minutes of play.

Jordan Heading added 17 points, three rebounds and three assists, Justin Arana had a double-double performance of 15 points and 11 rebounds and Kevin Racal contributed 13 points as the FiberXers wheeled back into the win column.

Justine Baltazar and import Cheick Diallo chipped in with eight points each, with Diallo also grabbing 13 rebounds in 36 minutes of action despite battling a stomach ache.

Jhonard Clarito led the E-Painters in a losing effort, scoring 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting and grabbing six rebounds in 31 minutes for coach Yeng Guiao.

Guiao was ejected in the third quarter with 4:45 remaining after receiving two technical fouls.

Deon Thompson recorded a 20-20 game, finishing with 22 points on 9-of-22 shooting and grabbing 22 rebounds in 41 minutes for the E-Painters, who dropped from second to seventh place with a 5-3 record.

Veteran Beau Belga added 14 points and seven rebounds while Santi Santillan had 11 points in a losing cause.

Converge fell behind by 17 points in the first quarter, trailing 6-23. However, the FiberXers mounted a comeback in the second quarter, erasing a 14-point deficit with a dominant 30-13 run to seize the lead by halftime, 47-43.

The FiberXers maintained their offensive momentum, building a 13-point advantage, 98-85, with 2:58 remaining in the final quarter and held on until the final buzzer sounded.

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.
Quarterscores: 17-30, 47-43, 73-69, 103-96.

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