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MANILA, Philippines-Converge finally got a win on Saturday night, against non-German but resilient NorthPort, 104-98, in the Philippine Cup PBA at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
It was expected that in the opening bracket, RK Ilagan went through in the second and held it until the final whistle that would give the FiberXers a crucial win that helped the youth club progress to the knockout stages.
Ilagan scored five of the team’s final seven points to top the team’s best 20. Jeo Ambohot, Abu Tratter, Justine Arana and Tyrus Hill each at least 10 times in an effort to help Converge improve their overall to 4-5.
“We know that going into this last paragraph that our backs are against the wall. So like I said in the previous game — the first two tests, we passed. But we have two big trials in Phoenix and Blackwater [coming up]” said coach Jeff Cariaso, who allegedly applies even without the Jeron Teng background.
“Yes, we just want to keep rolling around, improving on what we need to improve on and staying focused knowing that the next two (missions) are going to be a battle,” he continued.
Kevin Ferrer finished with 21 points almost only scoring from the three-point line. Arwind Santos added 20 while Roi Sumang 15 in the loss left NorthPort losing its sixth straight in eight games.
It also didn’t help as Robert Bolick was suspended due to injury and Jamie Malonzo, who was just 13, was sent off for a rough 2 foul in the third quarter, just as Batang Pier was closing. door with FiberXers.
NorthPort, which actually opened the conference with two wins, will have three more chances to get on board starting with Phoenix Super LPG next week.
The point:
CONVERGE 104 – Ilagan 20, Ambohot 15, Tratter 14, Arana 13, Hill 10, Murrell 8, DiGregorio 5, Bulanadi 5, Tolomia 4, Ahanmisi 4, Racal 3, Stockton 2, Browne 1, Adamos 0
NORTHPORT 98 – Ferrer 21, Santos 20, Sumang 15, Malonzo 13, Balanza 9, Calma 7, Ayaay 6, Javier 3, Vigil 2, Dela Cruz 2, Taha 0
Neighborhoods: 21-12, 49-37, 79-67, 104-98
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