Converge simply made sure it came in with more ammunition against Phoenix.

Quincy Miller and RK Ilagan took the spotlight and provided both of their career-best scoring as the FiberXers outgunned the Fuel Masters in an epic duel, 132-127, in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

The battle between the two hottest teams in the league, as expected, turned out to be a huge shootout as both teams combined for 36 triples with Converge even resetting its franchise record for most three pointers in a game with 22.

At the forefront of Converge's scoring spree were Miller, who exploded for 46 points built on eight triples, on top of the 18 rebounds and five assists, and spitfire guard Ilagan who nailed six three-pointers to finish with 22 points.

Jeron Teng also finished with 25 points while Maverick Ahanmisi added 13 – eight of which he scored in the final frame when the FiberXers created the much-needed separation enough to cushion even a late run from the Fuel Masters.

Despite the high-scoring affair, Converge head coach Aldin Ayo admitted that he was forced to make an adjustment with his team’s offense just to make sure his team will be able to break the Fuel Masters’ pressing defense.

“We tried to simplify our plays because we were distracted by their zone press. We got delayed by the press so we called for our short plays. We made sure na malagay sa tamang pwesto yung mga players at malagay sila sa sitwasyon na makaka score sila,” said Ayo.

Thanks to the FiberXers defense, the Fuel Masters suffered a rare scoring drought in the ball game during the final frame allowing Converge to go on a 8-0 spurt and build a 127-116 lead.

Converge never let go of the driver's seat from there even when Phoenix regained its touch behind Encho Serrano, Sean Anthony and Javee Mocon. Those efforts, however, still went futile in the end as the Fuel Masters absorbed its fourth loss in nine games while the FiberXers improved to a 7-2 record in the standings.

Kaleb Wesson paced Phoenix with 25 points and 21 rebounds while Mocon, Serrano and Anthony all finished with 17 points each.

Both Converge and Phoenix engaged in a shootout in the first half with the latter taking a 74-73 lead at the break – the most scored by two opposing teams in one half alone so far in the season.

The two teams sustained their scoring barrage in the second half, both even breaching the century mark with still a little over three minutes left in the third frame before the FiberXers tightened up their defensive screws in the fourth quarter to pull away for good.

When the dust settled, Converge notched another milestone in its young franchise with its132 points – coincidentally also most in a game by a PBA team since 2019 and by a first-year team in the last 29 years of the league.