MANILA – Alec Stockton delivered timely conversions in the endgame as Converge FiberXers prevailed over Meralco Bolts, 105-97, in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
With the score tied at 94-all, Stockton gave the FiberXers a 96-94 lead with two free throws, but the Bolts notched the lead for the last time at 97-96 on three free throws by rookie CJ Cansino.
Stockton then knocked down a three-pointer, a perimeter basket, and two free throws to give Converge a 103-97 lead with under a minute left before Jalen Jones sealed the victory with a two-handed dunk.
The 6-foot-1 Stockton finished with 27 points, with 12 coming in the final quarter, to go with 11 rebounds, five assists, and two steals as the FiberXers surged to third place in Group A with a 5-4 win-loss slate.
Jones debuted with a double-double of 32 points and 10 rebounds to go with two assists and two steals, while Justin Arana contributed 12 markers and six rebounds for the FiberXers.
Allen Durham led the way for the Bolts with 25 points, Cansino added a career-high of 21 markers, while Chris Newsome, Kier John Quinto, and Chris Banchero ended with 14, 12, and 10, respectively. They dropped to 6-3 slate.
On Tuesday night, TNT Tropang Giga displayed their steadiness in the endgame to defeat the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 84-82, to remain on top of Group A with 7-1 win-loss slate. The Hotshots dropped to 4-4.
Clinging to a slim 76-75 lead, the Tropang Giga got free throws from Kelly Williams and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for an 80-75 lead before Hollis-Jefferson got a two-pointer to extend the advantage to 82-75 with under a minute left.
The Hotshots cut the deficit to 78-82 via a three-pointer from Paul Lee, but Jayson Castro responded with two free throws to make it an 84-78 count, before the Hotshots closed the final margin with a four-point shot from Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Hollis-Jefferson delivered another double-double performance of 29 points and 25 rebounds, while Roger Pogoy and Calvin Oftana added 19 and 10, respectively, for the defending champions Tropang Giga./PN
BOX SCORE:
CONVERGE 105 – Jones 32, Stockton 27, Arana 12, Winston 8, Caralipio 8, Delos Santos 7, Santos 6, Ambohot 3, Nieto 2, Melecio 0, Andrade 0, Vigan-Fleming 0, Fornilos 0.
MERALCO 97 – Durham 25, Cansino 21, Newsome 14, Quinto 12, Banchero 10, Caram 6, Hodge 5, Bates 2, Almazan 2, Jose 0, Mendoza 0, Rios 0.
Quarterscores: 29-30, 51-53, 79-77, 105-97.
