PBA action on Friday featured a double-header of contenders going head-to-head, with the Converge FiberXers and Magnolia Hotshots opening hostilities. In the end, Converge proved too much for Magnolia, pulling through with a 114-97 victory to notch its sixth win in eight games. The Hotshots, on the other hand, dropped to 5-3 and out of the top four.
What Happened?
For a change, Magnolia got off to a rousing start, racing out to a 27-19 first-quarter advantage and a 50-42 lead going into intermission. Then Converge began flexing its might, with Juan Gomez de Liaño, Alec Stockton, and Justine Baltazar taking over. A 36-27 third quarter gave the FiberXers a one-point lead going into the final canto, where JGDL and company went full throttle and outscored Magnolia, 36-20, for the blowout.
Who Stood Out?
Gomez de Liaño, Stockton, and Baltazar all showed out against Magnolia, with the rookie going off for 27 points on top of 7 rebounds and 5 assists in another masterful outing. Stockton was equally impressive with his 23 markers and 4 boards. Baltazar, meanwhile, was a huge presence in the interior, finishing with 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
For Magnolia, it was Zavier Lucero who did the heavy lifting with a conference-high 31 markers to go along with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. Jerom Lastimosa helped out with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, but the two young guns’ best efforts were not enough.
3 Keys to the Game
- Juan Gomez de Liaño, masterful once more. It is beginning to sound like a broken record, but JGDL playing well usually means Converge have a fighting chance. He was terrific all game long against Magnolia, controlling the action with his playmaking and leadership to lead the FiberXers.
- Three-point shooting. Converge are hard to beat when JGDL and company are hitting from downtown. Such was the case against the Hotshots, as the FiberXers converted 10 of their 22 attempts from beyond the arc. In contrast, Magnolia struggled from deep, going 5-for-20 in another poor shooting performance.
- Strong finish. The FiberXers sputtered in the endgame in their two losses this conference. Against Magnolia, they flourished in the fourth quarter, stepping on the gas as the Hotshots found no answer to Converge’s plethora of weapons.
Next Up for the PBA
PBA Philippine Cup action continues at the Ynares Centre in Antipolo later today, this time with a double-header featuring teams at the bottom of the standings. The Terrafirma Dyip take on the Titan Ultra Giant Risers in the first game, followed by the Blackwater Bossing going up against the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
Terrafirma vs. Titan Ultra (5:15 p.m.)
Blackwater vs. Phoenix (7:30 p.m.)
