The PBA Commissioner’s Cup continued on Sunday with another double-header at the Ynares Center, where one team pulled off a stunning comeback and two teams played essentially all-Filipino. Here is a recap of the action:
Converge Stuns Magnolia with Furious Fightback
The Converge FiberXers looked headed for back-to-back losses in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup after falling behind the Magnolia Hotshots by as much as 20 in the third quarter of their Sunday encounter at Ynares Center.
Then, the FiberXers began finding their weakened signal in the latter half of the third quarter and never looked back, completing a stunning comeback to disconnect the Hotshots, 93-91, on a Justin Arana lay-in in the final seconds.
Arana had 24 points on an efficient 9-for-12 clip to go along with his 7 rebounds. But it was Alec Stockton in the control of Converge’s might fightback, making all the big plays down the stretch that included a trey to tie the game at 91 apiece and the dime that led to Arana’s game-winner. He finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Ricardo Ratliffe had 25 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks for the Hotshots, who were still ahead, 91-85, with 2:31 left in the game.
The FiberXers will take a 10-day break before they plunge back to action opposite the Northport Batang Pier on December 12 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Hotshots will try to bounce back on December 4 when they face the Batang Pier, also at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Scores:
- Converge 93 – Arana 24, Stockton 18, Racal 10, Diallo 10, Heading 8, Santos 8, Andrade 5, Winston 5, Nieto 3, Delos Santos 2
- Magnolia 91 – Ratliffe 25, Lastimosa 14, Sangalang 12, Ahanmisi 12, Lee 10, Lucero 10, Barroca 6, Laput 2
Meralco Repels Rain or Shine as Both Teams Go All-Filipino
Sunday’s nightcap turned out to be a mostly all-Filipino showdown, with the Meralco Bolts besting the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 121-111, to gain an early share of first place in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup standings with Hong Kong Eastern and Northport.
Meralco rode an electrifying first quarter, 33-25, to frustrate the Elasto Painters, who played without import Deon Thompson as the latter had yet to secure his special work permit. The Bolts, though, also had to play without a reinforcement after Akil Mitchell suffered a broken nose just 11 seconds into the game and had to be brought to a nearby hospital.
Chris Newsome picked up the slack for Mitchell, leading six Bolts in double-figures with 25 markers. Bong Quinto backed up NewNew with 20 points, while Jansen Rios, Norbert Torres, Raymond Almazan, and Cliff Hodge each scored at least 10. Keith Datu paced Rain or Shine with 17 points, followed by Adrian Nocum’s 15 and Leonard Santillan’s 14.
The Bolts return to action on December 4 against Eastern, while the Bolts go up against the Terrafirma Dyip on December 6. Both games will be played at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Scores:
- Meralco 121 – Newsome 25, Quinto 20, Rios 16, Torres 13, Almazan 12, Hodge 11, Caram 10, Black 9, Pascual 2, Jose 2, Pasaol 1,
- Rain or Shine 111 – Datu 17, Nocum 15, Santillan 14, Clarito 13, Tiongson 12, Caracut 11, Lemetti 9, Belga 6, Norwood 5, Malonzo 5, Ildefonso 2, Demusis 2
PBA Commissioner’s Cup Continues
The PBA Commissioner’s Cup goes back to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, December 3 with another pair of games: Terrafirma vs. NLEX Road Warriors and San Miguel Beermen vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters.
