MANILA – Converge FiberXers turned things around in the second half to defeat Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 89-82, in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Down by as many as 15 points in the first half, the FiberXers went on a huge tear in the third quarter behind King Caralipio, Jalen Jones, and Justin Arana to take a 73-68 advantage.
Converge continued their run in in the fourth quarter as lead grew to as high as 12 points at 89-77 before they prevented Magnolia from making an endgame run.
Jones finished with a double-double of 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Arana contributed 12 markers and 12 boards as the FiberXers finished in third place in Group A with a 6-4 win-loss slate.
Alec Stockton and Deschon Winston ended with 10 markers apiece for the FiberXers, which will face San Miguel Beermen in the best-of-five quarterfinals round.
Calvin Abueva and Peter Alfaro III finished with 11 markers apiece for the Hotshots, which ended fourth in Group A with 5-5 mark and will face Group B top-seed Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
On Sunday night, Anthony Semerad stepped up offensively in the overtime period as NLEX Road Warriors (5-5) pulled off a 103-99 victory over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (7-3).
The former San Beda University Red Lions guard caught fire early in the extension period by knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to give the Road Warriors a 98-94 advantage.
NLEX’s lead grew to 103-97 on a triple by DeQuan Jones and an inside hit from Ritchie Rodger. Ginebra managed to cut the lead to 99-103 on a conversion by Stephen Holt and had a chance to tie the game but Rhon Jhay Abarrientos missed his four-point try.
Semerad finished the game with 12 points, while Jones top-scored for the Road Warriors with 44 points, while Robert Bolick Jr. had a near triple-double showing of 16 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds.
The Road Warriors, which finished fourth in Group B, will face Group A top-seed TNT Tropang Giga in the quarters, while the Gin Kings, No. 3 in Group B, will tangle with Group A second placer Meralco Bolts./PN
BOX SCORE:
CONVERGE 89 – Jones 27, Arana 12, Stockton 10, Winston 10, Caralipio 9, Santos 8, Andrade 7, Delos Santos 4, Melecio 2, Cabagnot 0, Ambohot 0, Fornilos 0, Fleming 0, Nieto 0, Zaldivar 0.
MAGNOLIA 82 – Abueva 11, Alfaro 11, Sangalang 8, Balanza 8, Eriobu 8, Laput 7, Ahanmisi 6, Rice 5, Mendoza 5, Barroca 5, Reavis 2, Escoto 2, Lucero 2, Dionisio 2, Dela Rosa 0.
Quarterscores : 18-27, 41-50, 73-68, 89-82.
