The Converge FiberXers kept their slim hopes of making the quarters alive with a 97-92 victory over the TNT Tropang 5G on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. It is only Converge’s third win against six losses in what has been a frustrating PBA Commissioner’s Cup for the much-hyped squad. The loss, on the other hand, is TNT’s third versus five wins.
What Happened?
Two teams known for prolific offenses struggled in the first half, with Converge mustering just 15 points in the first quarter while TNT had only 19. It was much of the same in the second, although the FiberXers managed to get a 41-30 advantage heading into halftime thanks to a 17-9 windup just before intermission.
The offenses came alive after the break, with TNT dropping 31 third-quarter points. However, it could only chip away three points from Converge’s 11-point halftime lead as it surrendered 28 to the FiberXers. Converge was still up, 93-83, and looked ready to cruise to victory, only for the Tropa to get within 93-90 with 1:25 remaining. Still, the FiberXers managed to hang on as Justin Arana hit a critical free throw and then snagged an offensive rebound that led to his own putback for a 96-90 cushion.
Who Stood Out?
Arana played his best game yet in this Commissioner’s Cup, challenging TNT’s Bol Bol time and again and finishing with 21 points and 10 boards—including that game-sealing sequence with a minute left. The backcourt of Juan Gomez de Liaño and Alec Stockton also had their moments, with JGDL putting up 16 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Stockton, meanwhile, had 13 points and 4 steals along with key buckets in the fourth.
TNT, on the other hand, continued its reliance on Bol, who came away with 32 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser was steady as well on his way to a 14-point, 5-rebound outing.
3 Keys to the Game
- Three-point shooting. TNT and Converge were two of the more prolific three-point shooting teams last conference, but on Wednesday, the Tropa’s shooters went silent. In all, TNT made just three treys from beyond the arc on 28 attempts, which is putrid by the Tropa’s standards. The FiberXers, in contrast, made 12 of their 29 triples for a 25-point advantage in three-point shooting.
- Transition play. Converge was at its best on Wednesday when they sped things up, as evidenced by the FiberXers’ 18-9 advantage in fastbreak points.
- Bench play. Converge’s starters got the job done, although TNT’s starting unit outscored the former, 63-56. The FiberXers’ reserves—led by Mikey Williams and Calvin Abueva—bridged that gap, outscoring their Tropa counterparts, 41-29.
Next Up for the PBA
Friday, April 24, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
TNT Tropang 5G vs. Macau Black Knights (5:15 p.m.)
Blackwater Bossing vs. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (7:30 p.m.)
