PBA: Converge rallies back to steal win from NorthPort

Alec Stockton outplayed Venky Jois in their rematch. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Converge closed out its PBA Governors' Cup group stage rematch against NorthPort strongly and walked away with a 107-99 win on Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The FiberXers stole the win from the Batang Pier after finishing the game on a 12-0 run within the final 1:55.

The late rally also preserved a solid first half by Converge in which they led by as much as 16 points, 55-39, late in the second quarter before NorthPort turned the tides in the third.

"We just wanted to slow the game down somehow, but you cannot put a really good game at bay for so long. It just so happened that during the fourth quarter, we had our resolve," head coach Franco Atienza said after the FiberXers win that tied their victims at 3-4.

Alec Stockton led Converge with 21 points on 7-of-12 field goals including 4-of-5 on threes, five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks, while Schonny Winston added 17 points on 6-for-8 from the field, nine rebounds, and one assist.

Scotty Hopson was held to only 12 points on 3-for-14 shooting, but he too had 14 rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

Venky Jois led NorthPort with 24 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, and three steals, but he went 12-of-27 from the free throw line.

Arvin Tolentino, who exploded for 51 points in their first meeting, only tallied 21 this time, missing all of his six attempts from long-range while also committing five turnovers, although he too had 10 rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

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