Alec Stockton refused to lose on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The Converge FiberXers followed his lead.
Sparked by the temperamental playmaker, the FiberXers erased a 10-point deficit with under four minutes left to stun the TNT Tropang 5G, 114-112, in an overtime thriller that had undeniable playoff vibes from the opening tip up until the final buzzer.
Alec Stockton Grateful for the Trust He Keeps Getting
After the game, Alec Stockton expressed gratitude to everyone who has kept the faith in him in what has been a trying Season 50 marked by persistent trade rumors and criticisms about his sometimes shoddy decision-making, especially at the end of crucial games.
“For me, I just try to stay at it,” Stockton said when asked about regaining confidence after a recent rough patch this PBA Governors’ Cup. “Grateful sa trust nila [Converge coaching staff]. They still give me trust regardless. So, I think I just build on that. Just having the confidence from the coaches, teammates ko, my family. I know somehow, someway it’s gonna work out. So I just kept the faith, kept working, and eventually I got the opportunity. I was able to show what I can do.”
Stockton certainly showed what he can do. He showed he can put points on the board, scoring 8 of Converge’s final 14 points in the fourth quarter plus 4 more in OT. He also showed he can be a force on the other side of the ball with timely close-outs, stifling one-on-one defense, and a well-timed double-team on a driving Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the game’s last possession.
Building Momentum for the Playoffs
Sunday’s win is Converge’s fifth in a row after a four-game slide early in the conference. And for Alec Stockton, keeping that winning feeling is imperative heading into the quarterfinals, and the FiberXers played like it.
“Sa amin lang, we just wanted to continue to have that momentum going into the playoffs. We treated this like a playoff game,” he admitted. “That was our mentality. Credit to my teammates, the coaching staff. They made the adjustments, [and] my teammates were finding me. I just had the opportunity to get a chance to make plays…”
Indeed, that TNT vs. Converge clash felt like a playoff game, and it went the latter’s way. Now, the FiberXers await their next opponent because come Sunday, they’ll be playing in the playoffs—for real this time.
Expect Alec Stockton to be ready.
