PBA: Converge escapes meltdown, recovers late to dispose NorthPort

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Converge FiberXers banked on a late fourth-quarter run to take care of business against the NorthPort Batang Pier, 107-99, in the ongoing PBA Governor’s Cup on September 11, 2024, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Despite the win, the FiberXers’ coaching staff still dished out major concerns after letting their 16-point advantage evaporate in the third quarter of the game.

Converge looked formidable in the first half as they dominated NorthPort in all facets of the game, but the Batang Pier counter-rally came in the second half, stunning the FiberXers with their high-octane attack.

After NorthPort’s offensive run, Converge saw its double-digit lead pass by like the wind, giving way for another solid start in the fourth.

During the fourth, NorthPort successfully completed its comeback attempt after snatching away the lead with only five minutes remaining.

With successive baskets from the three-point line, NorthPort now bagged an eight-point lead which led to a fiery Converge timeout.

That timeout was then used to fuel the players, and they delivered.

In the final four minutes of the game, Converge gave NorthPort a dose of their own medicine after capping off the game with an 18-3 run.

The trio of Bryan Santos, Alec Stockton, and Deschon Winston spearheaded Converge’s insane rally that shifted NorthPort’s faces from all smiles to frowning frames.

Santos sparked Converge’s comeback after hitting a three-pointer, followed by crucial buckers from the duo of Santos and Winston.

“We made an ugly win, but we’ll take it. Especially right now, at this stage of the eliminations, we needed this. It’s a virtual playoff for us,” said Converge head coach Franco Atienza after the nip-and-tuck win.

Stockton led the FiberXers bounce-back effort with an all-around performance of 21 points, five rebounds, and three assists while Winston added 17 markers.

Santos then chipped in 15 points derived from five-made three-pointers while import Scotty Hopson was held to just 12 points but collected 14 boards.

With the ‘ugly win’, the FiberXers just ended its three-game losing streak in the import-laced conference while the Batang Pier failed to establish back-to-back victories.