Scotty Hopson hits PBA’s first 4-point game winner
Scotty Hopson became “too hotty” in the game as he hit the first ever 4-point game winner in the PBA to cap off his 32-point game performance.
Hopson knocked down the 4-pointer with 4.8 seconds remaining in the game to lift Converge FiberXers to a 96-95 squeaker against TNT Tropang Giga after trailing as much as 16 points in the game.
The Converge import completed his heroics in the defensive end as he blocked the driving Rondae Hollis-Jefferson just before the final buzzer went off.
Converge improved to 2-1 as they dealt TNT their first loss of the conference after three matches.
The FiberXers were still down by three, 95-92, after Hollis-Jefferson knocked down the game’s last four free throws, including a pair with only 9.6 seconds left in the contest.
Converge interim head coach Franco Atienza said that they intended to take the four-point shot in their final possession as they have someone who can shoot from that distance.
True enough, Hopson made the historic game-winning shot after he got enough space to launch a shot off the screen given by Bryan Santos against Glenn Khobuntin.
Hopson, who also grabbed 10 rebounds and four assists said that, "In situations like that, I get real calm and let my instincts take over. I've made shots like that my whole career, in terms of game-winners. This was just another one that went in and... thank God I put all those hours in by myself on the court when nobody's watching."
Schonny Winston led the Converge locals with 14 markers, seven boards, two dimes and two deflections while Justin Arana added 13 points and seven rebounds.
On the TNT side, RHJ had 32 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blacks to lead the Tropang Giga while Calvin Oftana added 22 points and 10 rebounds.
The scores:
Converge 96 – Hopson 32, Winston 14, Arana 13, Racal 12, Cabagnot 10, Stockton 8, Santos 5, Delos Santos 2, Caralipio 0, Nieto 0, Andrade 0, Ambohot 0.
TNT 95 – Hollis-Jefferson 32, Oftana 22, Castro 8, Aurin 7, Khobuntin 7, Nambatac 6, Heruela 5, Erram 5, Pogoy 3, Payawal 0.
QUARTERS: 16-29, 40-53, 64-70, 96-95
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