PBA: ROS stifles Justin Arana-less Converge to take top spot

Santi Santillan led the way anew for ROS. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Rain Or Shine turned to smothering defense to hold Converge, the hottest-shooting team right now in the PBA Philippine Cup, for a 90-84 win on Sunday night at the Ynares Center 2 in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Entering the game averaging a league-high 111.8 points per outing, the FiberXers were given a tough lesson by the Elasto Painters as the latter held the former to less than 90 for the first time this conference.

Santi Santillan led ROS, which is now the lone team at the top of the standings at 7-2, with 16 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and two steals.

Gian Mamuyac added 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block while successfully containing Converge's super rookie Juan Gomez De Liano.

Mike Malonzo and Caelan Tiongson each put up 10 markers with Malonzo grabbing 10 rebounds too.

The team can seal the top seed ahead of the quarterfinals if it sweeps the games against Magnolia and Ginebra in Manama next week and the other teams chasing the top seed falter.

Gomez De Liano still led the FiberXers, who dropped to a three-way tie with the Magnolia Hotshots and NLEX Road Warriors for third place at 6-3, with 20 points along with nine rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block, but he was held to 7-of-19 shooting including a dismal 1-for-7 clip from long range.

Balti Baltazar took rebounding matters to his own hands with Justin Arana ruled out of the game due to an ankle injury and grabbed 21 boards, but Baltazar was held to just 10 points on 4-for-15 shooting.