PBA: Converge closes season on high note, spoils TNT's QF bonus bid

Aljun Melecio caught fire right at the final game of the year for Converge. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG--Converge ended what has been a so-so PBA season on a high note, stunning TNT, 107-103, in a crucial Philippine Cup game on Wednesday night at the PhilSports Arena.

With the result, the Tropang Giga will miss out on the Top 2 finish which would have meant they only need one win in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals.

The FiberXers, though, needed to survive a comeback.

Up 98-82 with 6:58 left, Converge found itself in the middle of a 17-4 TNT run that cut the lead down to three, 102-99, with 2:32 remaining.

The Tropang Giga, though, could not complete the comeback, and Schonny Winston scored on a pull-up jumper from the free throw line to increase the FiberXers' lead back to five, 104-99, with 54 seconds to go.

RR Pogoy had one last gasp for TNT as he converted a triple that trimmed the gap to two, 105-103, with 16 seconds remaining, but Winston hit two clutch charities with 11 seconds left to ice the game.

Aljun Melecio led Converge, which finished the conference at 2-9, with 17 points, two rebounds, and two assists off the bench.

Justin Arana and Bryan Santos braved through foul trouble and contributed 15 points each.

Calvin Oftana had 33 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and one block, while Pogoy added 29 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one block for TNT, which dropped to 5-5.

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