Converge pounced on the ejection of Yeng Guiao and frustrated Rain or Shine, 103-96, to take the solo second in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

The FiberXers bucked a slow start and the dynamic duo of Alec Stockton and Jordan Heading presided over a huge second half onslaught to send the Elasto Painters reeling to their second straight defeat.

Stockton fired 17 of his 21 points in the second half while Heading had 16 of his 17 in the same stretch for Converge, which trailed by as many as 17 points following a flat start in the opening frame.

Import Cheick Diallo had an off night with only eight points and 13 rebounds to show but the rest of Converge picked up the slack with Justin Arana dropping 15 points and 11 rebounds and Kevin Racal chipping in 13 points on a perfect 4-of-4 clip from the three-point territory.

The FiberXers improved to a 7-3 record just a game behind league-leading NorthPort which haS a 7-2 slate.

Converge recovered from a 23-6 start with the help of its defense, particularly in the second quarter where it limited Rain or Shine to just 13 in the second frame while exploding for 30 to get back into the game.

The FiberXers then made a huge run in the third frame to gain control before fending off a crucial run from the Elasto Painters who went on to score 11 unanswered points after Guiao was ejected with two technicals at the 4:45 mark of the third.

Jhonard Clarito paced ROS with 24 points while import Deon Thompson added 22 points and 22 rebounds. Beau Belga chipped in 14 whle Santi Santillan had 11 but were not enough as the Elasto Painters absorbed their second-straight defeat.

They slipped to the seventh spot with a 5-3 slate.