Converge import Cheikh Diallo gets his way to the basket. PBA photo
Stockton takes charge
Games Wednesday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. — Meralco vs.Converge
7:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs. Magnolia
CONVERGE FiberX, the “Comeback Team” in the PBA, did it again.
With Alec Stockton and import Cheick Diallo doing most of the damage, Converge rallied to beat Barangay Ginebra, 98-91, in an out-of-town game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Stockton came through with 22 points, six rebounds and eight assists while Diallo added 19 points and 18 rebounds for the FiberXers, who battled back from a 17-point halftime deficit (40-57) to frustrate the Kings and notch their fifth win in seven matches.
Three of these Converge victories came after falling behind by huge double-digit deficits.
Before the victory over Ginebra, Converge also rallied from 20 points down deficit to beat Magnolia Chicken Timplados, 83-91, and then erased an 18-point deficit to subdue Phoenix Super LPG, 116-110.
Stockton stood at the forefront of Converge’s big comeback over Ginebra as he scattered 17 points in a game-changing 33-13 run that caught Ginebra flat-footed.
Diallo then provided the clutch baskets to keep Ginebra at bay in the fourth period.
Also stepping up for Converge were Schonny Winston, who contributed 15 points, Jordan Heading, who added 13 points; and Justin Arana, who netted 11.
Winston scored 11 points in the fourth quarter alone.
Three-time PBA Best Import awardee Justin Brownlee topscored for Ginebra with 39 points, followed by Maverick Ahanmiksi with 15 points and RJ Abarrientos with 11.
Brownlee also submitted 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
The Kings dropped to 3-2 and dropped out of second place in the standings ahead of their Manila Clasico duel with Magnolia on Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, Beau Belga achieved a career milestone late in his PBA career by becoming the latest member of the league’s 5,000-point club.
The 38-year-old Rain or Shine big man reached the mark during the team’s 99-81 win over guest team Eastern.
Belga scored his 5,000 career points when he drove to the basket and got a bonus foul from Ramon Cao with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.
In doing so, the product of Philippine Christian University became the 98th player to achieve the feat in the 49-year history of Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league and the 13th among the active players, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.
The scores:
Converge (98) — Stockton 22, Diallo 19, Winston 15, Heading 13, Arana 11, Santos 8, Baltazar 6, Racal 3, Nieto 1, Andrade 0, Caralipio 0, Delos Santos 0. Ginebra (91) — Brownlee 39, Ahanmisi 15, Abarrientos 11, Thompson 8, Tenorio 5, Rosario 5, Mariano 4, Adamos 2, Cu 2, Holt 0. Quarterscores: 21-23, 40-57, 73-70, 98-91.
