Heading fuels Converge to claim fourth straight win on Christmas Day
Jordan Heading exhibited an all-around performance to power Converge past Meralco, 110-94, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, December 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Heading tallied a 30-game output for the FiberXers, along with five rebounds, and eight assists as they notched their fourth straight win in their first-ever Christmas Day appearance.
“I try to approach this game like I approach every game, which is part of being a professional: You have a routine and you try to stick to your routine every single game. Obviously, there’s a little excitement but I’m used to it for as long as I can remember,” the Filipino-Australian playmaker said as Converge rose to 6-2 in the midseason conference.
The FiberXers had a 20-point advantage, 94-74, with less than eight minutes left in the fourth period before the Bolts edged closer, 102-88, at the 2:57 mark.
However, charities from Heading and a basket from import Cheick Diallo further increased the gap, while Justin Arana's consecutive baskets with less than two minutes remaining ultimately secured the win.
The victory was more meaningful to head coach Franco Atienza due to the fact that the FiberXers upset a club of championship caliber like the Bolts.
“This is a championship-caliber team and they are plagued with injuries,” said Atienza. “Maybe we were lucky they were not in their best form, although they really competed now.”
“We were just lucky that we got Meralco when they were not super 100 percent. Not taking anything away from them, but we believe they are a far better team,” he concluded.
Diallo backstopped Heading’s efforts by producing 24 markers and 18 boards, while top draft pick Justine Baltazar netted his season high, delivering 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
Meanwhile, returning import Akil Mitchell posted 29 markers and 18 boards as Meralco suffered its second straight loss after winning its first three games.
Bong Quinto and Cliff Hodge had 23 and 10, respectively, while Chris Newsome was only limited to nine points and five rebounds.
The Scores:
CONVERGE 110 – Heading 30, Diallo 24, Baltazar 16, Winston 11, Stockton 10, Arana 7, Andrada 5, Racal 3, Delos Santos 2, Santos 2, Fornillos 0, Nieto 0, Ambohot 0, Caralipio 0, Javillonar 0.
MERALCO 94 – Mitchell 29, Quinto 23, Hodge 10, Newsome 9, Banchero 6, Maliksi 5, Reyson 3, Pascual 3, Black 2, Rios 2, Caram 2, Torres 0.
Quarter Scores: 26-20, 58-41, 85-66, 110-94.
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It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for NLEX, which found itself down by 11 early in the game. But the tide shifted in the second quarter, where the Road Warriors erupted for a 34-12 run behind the efforts of Robert Bolick, Dominic Fajardo, Tony Semerad, and Xyrus Torres to seize a 52-36 halftime lead.
Blackwater attempted a late push, cutting the gap to 76-65 in the fourth quarter, but NLEX responded with a 12-5 counter that put the game out of reach. Semerad, who buried three triples in the payoff period, earned Finals MVP honors with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Torres topped the scoring for NLEX with 19 markers, while Bolick came close to a triple-double with eight points, six boards, and nine assists. JB Bahio and Fajardo chipped in 12 and 10 markers, respectively. As a team, the Road Warriors torched the net from beyond the arc, going 18-of-34, with Semerad and Torres sinking four each.
Sedrick Barefield paced Blackwater with 15 points, while Richard Escoto added 14. The Bossing, despite falling short in the finals, had an impressive run in the preliminaries, including a comeback win over NLEX, 95-90, earlier in the tournament.
The championship serves as a timely boost for NLEX heading into the new PBA season. Last year, the Road Warriors finished second in the Philippine Cup eliminations before bowing out in the quarterfinals against Rain or Shine. Deputy mentor Adonis Tierra called the shots in their last two games, steering the team to become the second straight PBA squad to lift the Kadayawan crown, following Rain or Shine’s sweep in 2024. NLEX closed the tournament with a 3-1 card, their lone loss coming at the hands of Blackwater.
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The NLEX Road Warriors and Blackwater Bossing opened their campaigns in the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational with victories in their respective first games on Thursday, August 21, at the USEP Gym in Davao City.
In the first game, Sedrick Barefield made an immediate impact for the Bossing. The 2024 second overall pick erupted for 28 points, including six triples. Three of those came in succession in the fourth quarter, turning a slim 72-66 lead into a more comfortable 81-68 cushion.
Troy Mallillin contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while newcomer Jed Mendoza impressed in his debut with 16 points.
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All eyes in Taiwan will be on the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, which will host a blockbuster doubleheader featuring some of the region’s most decorated clubs.
The action tips off with a clash between the B.LEAGUE champions Utsunomiya Brex and the P. LEAGUE+ runners-up Taipei Fubon Braves. Utsunomiya, led by veteran guard Makoto Hiejima, entered as one of Japan’s most successful franchises. The Braves, meanwhile, look to prove their resilience after falling short in a grueling seven-game finals series last season, banking on the leadership of Chinese Taipei legend Lin Chih-Chieh.
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