A high-profile matchup between two talented teams—the Converge FiberXers and Meralco Bolts—capped off PBA Philippine Cup action on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Meralco was looking to clinch a playoff spot, and the Bolts did just that, dismantling the playoff-bound FiberXers, xx-xx, for their third straight win and sixth victory against four losses. Converge, on the other hand, dropped to 6-4 in a tie with the Bolts and the NLEX Road Warriors.
What Happened?
Converge scored the first two points of the game, and then the Bolts rifled 10 straight to seize control. Meralco extended its lead to 33-7 after a commanding showing in the first quarter, before settling for a 55-32 halftime cushion. The Bolts continued to be in control for the entirety of the second half, even as Converge cut the lead down to 15 a couple of times in the fourth quarter.
Who Stood Out?
CJ Cansino continued to impress for Meralco in this PBA Philippine Cup as he notched his third straight 20-point game—this time, a career-best 29 markers on 10-for-17 shooting. The sophomore sensation was particularly superb in the first half, where he fired 20 of his total, including 12 in the first quarter alone. Aaron Black was impressive as well, chipping in 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting, on top of 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
For Converge, it was just that kind of night as only Juan Gomez de Liaño showed up in this important game. The super rookie carried the fight for the FiberXers, firing 27 points on top of 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
3 Keys to the Game
- Strong start. Meralco’s fiery first quarter was the story of this game. That 33-7 opening put Converge in catch-up mode right away, and it just seemed like the FiberXers couldn’t recover from the Bolts’ electric start.
- Defense. Defense has always been the Bolts’ MO, and they were sensational on that end of the floor against Converge, cutting off the FiberXers’ passing lanes, smothering shooters, and making it difficult for anyone other than JGDL to get into any sort of rhythm. That defense was particularly unforgiving in the first quarter, where Meralco took control.
- Three-point shooting—or the lack of it. Converge is a prolific three-point shooting team, but other than JGDL, the FiberXers were off-target thanks largely to Meralco’s smothering defense. As a result, Converge hit just three triples on only 17 attempts. Meralco, in contrast, made five of its 16 tries from downtown.
Next Up for the PBA
The PBA Philippine Cup continues with a special Monday offering, but in the Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Bahrain. This out-of-country game will see the Magnolia Hotshots take on the league-leading Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a showdown with top-four ramifications.
Rain or Shine vs. Magnolia (11:55 p.m.)
