Converge bucks Quincy Miller ejection, clobbers NLEX for 5th straight win

Aljun Melecio waxed hot anew for Converge. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

ANTIPOLO—Converge still kept a huge lead despite losing Quincy Miller before halftime en route to a 108-84 win against NLEX in their PBA Commissioner's Cup clash on Saturday night at the Ynares Center.

With their outside shooting clicking again, the FiberXers raced to a 55-29 lead with 3:10 left in the first half.

However, nearly two minutes later, Miller gave a hard foul on Brandon Rosser that was credited as a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2, sending him off the match.

Still, Converge showed grit despite going all-Filipino the rest of the way, especially late in the fourth quarter after the team pulled away for good after NLEX began the period with a 12-0 run that drew the team to within just 10 with 9:11 left.

Aljun Melecio once again shattered his career-high with 24 points alongside five rebounds and six assists for the FiberXers, who are now in a virtual tie with the Magnolia Hotshots and the Bay Area Dragons for first place.

Miller put up 15 points, going perfect 3-for-3 from long range, nine rebounds, one assist, and one block before making an early exit.

The now 6-2 Converge squad has now won five straight games, joining Phoenix as the two hottest squads at this juncture of the conference ahead of their showdown on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Rosser also had 24 points with nine rebounds, one assist, and one block for the Road Warriors, who fell to 3-4.

The Scores:

CONVERGE 108 – Melecio 24, Miller 15, Teng 14, Arana 12, Tratter 9, Stockton 8, Ambohot 7, Ahanmisi 6, Ilagan 5, Murrell 3, DiGregorio 3, Racal 2

NLEX 84 – Ganuelas-Rosser 24, Clark 15, Paniamogan 15, Alas 14, Rosales 8, Nieto 8, Chua 0, Miranda 0, Fonacier 0

QUARTERS: 34-17, 58-41, 80-60, 108-84

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