Stockton, Winston lead Converge past NorthPort
Converge bounced back from a disappointing loss to NorthPort in the first round with a thrilling 107-99 victory, revitalizing their playoff aspirations in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, September 11.
The FiberXers, who had previously squandered a commanding 16-point lead, found themselves trailing by as many as seven in the fourth quarter. However, they rallied just in time to end their three-game losing streak, leveling their record at 3-4 in Group A alongside their opponents.
In the closing moments, the trio of Alec Stockton, Schonny Winston, and Brian Santos delivered key performances, combining for an impressive 18-3 run. This surge came despite a subpar outing from import Scotty Hopson, who struggled with an injury, and Justin Arana fouling out of the game.
Stockton shone with 21 points, highlighted by a crucial and-1 play with just 1:07 remaining that lifted the FiberXers back into a 101-99 lead. Winston punctuated the victory with a dagger jumper in transition, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds. Santos also played a vital role, contributing 15 points that included two pivotal three-pointers down the stretch, while Hopson managed to tally 12 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists despite his discomfort.
Tensions from the heated contest spilled over even after the final buzzer, as Converge assistant Danny Ildefonso and NorthPort governor Erick Arejola were involved in a skirmish during the traditional handshake. Cooler heads eventually prevailed, but the underlying animosity stems from Ildefonso’s previous comments about NorthPort’s farm team on social media, rooted in the ongoing contract stalemate involving his son, Dave.
The Batang Pier acknowledged that those comments fueled their motivation in their earlier encounter, where they decisively beat the FiberXers 135-109, with Arvin Tolentino scoring a staggering 51 points. In this rematch, Tolentino managed to secure 21 points, yet it wasn’t enough to facilitate a comeback from a significant 55-39 deficit in the first half. Venky Jois led NorthPort with 24 points and 14 rebounds but struggled at the free throw line, converting only 12 of 27 attempts.
Despite his free-throw difficulties, Jois was instrumental in a strong second-half performance, alongside William Navarro, helping NorthPort to seize a 92-84 lead midway through the final quarter.
