Converge Sends a Playoff Warning After Rallying Past TNT in Overtime

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Converge made its playoff intentions clear. The FiberXers erased a 15-point deficit to stun TNT, 114-112, in overtime on Sunday, Oct. 18, in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Alec Stockton set the tone for the postseason, tying the game with an undergoal stab in regulation before winning it in overtime with a tough drive. His clutch shot-making put the rest of the field on notice.

Alec Stockton scored 19 points for Converge, including the tying basket in regulation and the game-winning drive in overtime against TNT. [PBA Images]

Converge Locks Up No. 3 Seed in Group A

Converge closed the elimination round at 8-4 with its fifth straight win, securing the No. 3 seed in Group A. The FiberXers will meet the second-best team from Group B in a best-of-five quarterfinal.

Stockton finished with 19 points, 12 of them in the fourth quarter and overtime. “We just want to continue to have that momentum going to the playoffs so we treated this like a playoff game. That was our mentality,” he said.

“We just had the opportunity to get the chance to make plays and just made it happen down the stretch,” Stockton added. The FiberXers had trailed 71-86 late in the third period.

Clark, Gomez de Liano, Baltazar Power Comeback

“Good thing ‘yung mga bata talagang lumaban, hindi nawala sa focus kahit lumamang sila. Humabol pa rin kami,” said Converge coach Dennis “Delta” Pineda. The FiberXers chipped away at the deficit and forced overtime.

“Alam naman po natin na this is one of the big boys, itong TNT,” Pineda added. “Big challenge for us and sabi ko nga, ‘Just don’t give up.’”

Cameron Clark led Converge with 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He also sealed the win by stopping Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s undergoal stab on TNT’s final offensive possession.

Juan Gomez de Liano added 22 points and eight assists. Justine Baltazar chipped in 19 points and 12 rebounds.

TNT dropped to 7-5 and finished fourth in Group A. The Tropang 5G will face the top team from Group B in the quarterfinals. Hollis-Jefferson paced TNT with 33 points and 11 rebounds.

Jordan Heading added 21 points, and Calvin Oftana scored 14. Roger Pogoy finished with 12 after being honored at halftime for joining the 500 Steals Club.