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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Converge shrugs off Blackwater to inch closer to quarters incentive

Converge shrugs off Blackwater to inch closer to quarters incentive

Published Jan 19, 2025 12:04 pm

At A Glance

  • The signal remained strong for Converge as it inched closer to a quarterfinals incentive after breezing past Blackwater, 127-109 in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, Jan. 19.

The signal remained strong for Converge as it inched closer to a quarterfinals incentive after breezing past Blackwater, 127-109, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, Jan. 19.

PBA Images3 - 2025-01-19T194420.204.jpg

The FiberXers built a sizable margin in the first half and while the Bossing showed some semblance of fight in the last two quarters, Converge held on behind timely hits from Jordan Heading and Justine Baltazar.

Converge improved to an 8-3 record, strengthening its bid of finishing within the Top 2 spots with still a game left to finish its elimination schedule. 

The spots merit twice-to-beat advantages in the quarterfinals and the FiberXers are currently at the second spot although Eastern, Meralco and NorthPort are also making a chase with similar 7-3 slates for the third to fifth spots.

Jordan Heading and Alec Stockton took turns in orchestrating the offensive thrust for Converge with the former leading the way with 22 points and five assists while the latter had 19 points and seven assists.

A knee injury to big man Justin Arana, however, put a huge dampener to the win after hyperextending his left knee in the third frame and never returned.

Much of their passes had found their big men as recipients with import Cheick Diallo posting 20 points to go with 18 rebounds and Baltazar also dropping a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The FiberXers led by as many 20 points, 78-58, early in the second half. The Bossing refused to go down without a fight and chopped the lead down to single digit, 94-103, after a booming four from import George King.

That, however, was the closest Blackwater could get as baskets from Heading, Baltazar and Diallo easily reestablished order to safely cruise for the win.

King paced Blackwater with 13 points, 13 rebounds and six assists while Jaydee Tungcab shone with 20 points and five steals.

Although dropped to a 2-8 record, the Bossing remained in contention for the eighth spot but they need to sweep their last two games while hoping that the San Miguel Beermen, who sit at No. 8 with a 4-5 record, no longer picks up a victory the rest of their schedule.

 

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