The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup ended the work week with a high-powered double-header at the PhilSports Arena. Here’s what went down:
Converge Whips Skidding NorthPort Behind Big Game from Alec Stockton
Alec Stockton fired a game-high 33 points to go along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists to power the Converge FiberXers to a 111-92 triumph over the skidding NorthPort Batang Pier as action in the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup heats up.
Stockton scored 13 of his conference-high 33 in the second quarter to help Converge pull away from NorthPort, before adding 8 more in the fourth to punctuate his fiery performance. Schonny Winston added 22 points, while Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar finished with double-doubles—18 points and 14 rebounds for Arana and 10 points and 11 rebounds for Baltazar.
Joshua Munzon and Will Navarro scored 23 and 20, respectively, to carry the Batang Pier, who are still sorely missing Arvin Tolentino as his contract situation drags out. Cade Flores and James Kwekuteye added 14 and 12, respectively, off the NorthPort bench.
With the win, Converge hiked its 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup record to 5-3, just a game outside the top four. NorthPort, on the other hand, dropped its fifth straight to fall to 1-5 and just a loss ahead of the cellar-dwelling Terrafirma Dyip.
The scores:
Converge (111) – Stockton 33, Winston 22, Arana 18, Baltazar 10, B.Santos 7, Caralipio 7, Garcia 6, Suerte 4, Fleming 2, Nermal 2, Ambohot 0, R.Santos 0, Racal 0, Delos Santos 0
NorthPort (92) – Munzon 23, Navarro 20, Flores 14, Kwekuteye 12, Bualandi 6, Miranda 5, Jalalon 4, Nelle 3, Onwubere 3, Cuntapay 2, Yu 0, Nava 0, Taha 0
Up Next:
Converge vs. NLEX Road Warriors on May 23 (PhilSports Arena)
NorthPort vs. Magnolia Hotshots on May 24 (Candon City, Ilocos Sur)
Ginebra Thwarts Phoenix Behind Red-Hot Shooting
RJ Abarrientos, Japeth Aguilar, and Scottie Thompson all put up big games to lead Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to a 119-112 victory over the Phoenix Fuel Masters at the halway point of the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup.
Phoenix actually started off strong, with Jason Perkins leading the team to a 27-24 first quarter. But led by Thompson, Aguilar, and Abarrientos, Ginebra started to pick things up in the second, where the crowd darlings erected a 59-50 halftime lead. They then zoomed to a 92-72 cushion after three.
Abarrientos scored a team-high 25 points on five triples, while Thompson finished with 17 points, 2 rebounds, and a game-high 13 dimes. Aguilar added 24 markers on 9-for-12 shooting to go along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Stephen Holt and Jamie Malonzo chipped in 18 and 15, respectively, to help Ginebra register back-to-back wins after its 85-66 drubbing of Converge.
Jason Perkins led the way for Phoenix with 28 points, while Ken Tuffin scattered 17 on 7-for-9 shooting from the field. RJ Jazul added 18 off the bench for the Fuel Masters, who have now lost two straight after getting blown out by the San Miguel Beermen previously.
With the win, Ginebra climbed to 4-2 to join idle San Miguel at the top four of the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup. Phoenix, meanwhile, dropped to 2-5.
The scores:
Ginebra (119) – Abarrientos 25, J.Aguilar 24, Holt 18, Thompson 17, Malonzo 15, Rosario 8, Pessumal 6, Cu 3, Adamos 2, R. Aguilar 1, David 0, Pinto 0, Mariano 0
Phoenix (112) – Perkins 28, Jazul 18, Tuffin 17, Tio 15, Ballungay 12, Garcia 6, Verano 6, Alejandro 3, Manganti 3, Ular 2, Soyud 2, Rivero 0, Cullar 0, Camacho 0
Up Next:
Ginebra vs. Blackwater on May 23 (PhilSports Arena)
Phoenix vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on May 28 (PhilSports Center)
2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup Continues
The 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday with a pair of games at the Ynares Center – Montalban. San Miguel will take on Terrafirma in the first game, while Magnolia will go up against Rain or Shine in the second game.
