WITH precious seconds ticking on the clock last night, Converge guard Alec Stockton’s eyes widened when he found himself isolated at the top of the key against NorthPort import Venky Jois. After several crossover dribbles, Stockon drove hard and rose for a clutch layup and a foul to boot.
Showing they wanted it more, the FiberXers essayed a 107-99 victory over the Batang Pier to keep their quarterfinals bid alive in Group A of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
The spitfire Stockton fell on his back and roared after seeing the leather go down the basket that gave Converge a 100-99 cushion with 1:07 left.
Stockton canned the pressure-packed bonus free throw and the FiberXers forced NorthPort into a maze of turnovers in the endgame to avert squandering a 16-point lead and complete their fightback from an eight-point fourth quarter deficit.
Defending champion TNT takes on Meralco for an outright Last Eight slot in Group A today while Magnolia squares off with Terrafirma at the same venue.
Converge interim coach Franco Atienza pointed to his charges’ resolve in the final canto that gave them the much-needed push in a duel that saw Batang Pier team governor Erick Arejola charge at FiberXers deputy tactician Danny Ildefonso after the final buzzer sounded.
Arejola and Ildefonso could not be reached for comment on what transpired.
“We give credit to NorthPort. The Batang Pier are a good team. We started quite well in the first half but then iyong third quarter was our loophole in this game. I think we had eight turnovers during that quarter, and I think we lost by 12 points during the third,” Atienza said. “So, basically, we all know we were up against a fast team, No. 1 in fastbreak points and No. 2 in turnover points and No. 1 in steals.
“We just wanted to slow the game down somehow, but you cannot really put a good team at bay for so long. It just so happened that during the fourth quarter we had our resolve,” he added.
Stockton shone for the FiberXers with 21 points and five rebounds while Schonny Winston barely missed a double-double of 17 markers and nine boards.
Bryan Santos, reinforcement Scotty Hopson, and Kevin Racal also had 15, 12, and 10 points, respectively as Converge atoned for a 91-98 loss to the Tropang Giga four nights ago and improved to 3-4.
The FiberXers also got back at NorthPort after absorbing a 109-135 demolition last Aug. 29.
The Batang Pier, coming off a 133-107 rout of Terrafirma last Sunday, dropped to 3-4.
Converge held a 57-43 advantage at the half, but NorthPort knotted the match at 71-all going into the fourth period.
A Joshua Munzon basket gave the Batang Pier a 92-84 buffer at the 5:57 mark of the fourth but the FiberXers refused to lie down and die.
Jois carried the fight for NorthPort with 24 points and 14 caroms while Arvin Tolentino added 21 markers and 10 rebounds.
Munzon and William Navarro also combined for 24 for the Batang Pier.
With the hunt for the playoffs heating up, it’s a question whether Converge can continue connecting.
