Converge locals lead strong finish against NorthPort
Alec Stockton, Bryan Santos, and Schonny Winston pulled out the trigger in the end game to give Converge a 107-99 win over NorthPort on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The FiberXers led by the trio came out in a big 18-3 run late in the game to gain the victory and cut the team’s three-game slump. They are now tied with Batang Pier at fourth place in Group A with 3-4 identical records.
Stockton produced 21 points including a three-point play in the dying minutes of the game, while Santos finished with 15 markers including two crucial back-to-back triples that brought them back to the game, and Winston added 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Converge coach Franco Atienza said that they started well at the first half of play but struggled in the third period when NorthPort tied the game at the end of it after posting a 16-point second quarter lead.
"We started out quite well in the first half, but then 'yung third quarter was our loophole in this game," said Atienza.
"Basically, we all know na we're up against a really fast team, No. 1 in fastbreak, No. 2 turnover points and No. 1 in steals. So we just wanted to slow the game down somehow, but you cannot really keep a good team at bay for so long," added Atienza.
"It just so happened that in the fourth quarter we had our resolve. We were able to get a grind out win."
Scotty Hopson was just limited to 12 points only on 3-of-14 shooting but still grabbed 12 boards and dished off six assists, while star center Justin Arana just chipped in with only four points before fouling out of the game.
"We're glad that our locals... stepped up, but more so on the defensive end," noted Atienza.
Venky Jois led all scorers with 24 points on top of 14 rebounds and Arvin Tolentino had his own double-double of 21 markers and 10 boards to lead NorthPort.
The Batang Pier did get awarded a franchise-best 57 free throws, which is also the ninth-most for any team in league history, but could only get 36 points out of those charities.
The Scores :
CONVERGE 107 - Stockton 21, Winston 17, Santos 15, Hopson 12, Racal 10, Delos Santos 9, Ambohot 6, Nieto 6, Cabagnot 5, Arana 4, Andrade 2, Vigan-Fleming 0, Fornilos 0, Caralipio 0, Zaldivar 0.
NORTHPORT 99 - Jois 24, Tolentino 21, Munzon 13, Navarro 11, Jalalon 9, Nelle 7, Cuntapay 5, Amores 4, Tratter 3, Flores 2, Yu 0, Bulanadi 0, Onwubere 0.
QUARTERS: 29-26, 57-43, 71-71, 107-99.
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