FiberXers turn tables on Gin Kings

MANILA, Philippines -- The Converge FiberXers stormed back from 17 points down and kept Barangay Ginebra at bay, 98-91, in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup tussle Saturday at the Batangas City Coliseum.

Converge outscored Ginebra 33-13 in the third quarter, and dropped a 20-0 run that traversed from the third to the fourth period to turn things around.

Alec Stockton finished with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Cheick Diallo added 19 markers, 18 boards and four dimes.

Ginebra led by as much as 17 points in the second quarter, 55-38, after a Troy Rosario layup.

Converge cut the lead to seven, 60-67, at the 5:36 mark of the third quarter after a Justin Arana deuce.

This was answered by a 3-pointer by Justin Brownlee to push Ginebra's lead back to 10, 70-60, with 5:16 left in the third.

This was the last point of Ginebra for about seven minutes of playtime, as the FiberXers erupted for 20 straight points.

The run was capped by a jumper by Schonny Winston, before Brownlee finally stopped the bleeding, 80-72.

Ginebra then attempted a comeback and cut the lead to three, 88-91, after an and-one play by Brownlee.

But a split from the line by Jordan Heading, followed by a thunderous jam plus the foul by Cheick Diallo, kept the Gin Kings at bay, 95-88, with 1:54 to go.

Mav Ahanmisi finished another three-point play, to make it a four-point Ginebra deficit, 91-95, but a layup by Arana and a split from the line by Stockton iced the game.

Winston chipped in 15 points for Converge, with 11 coming in the fourth quarter. Heading and Arana added 13 and 11, respectively.

Bronwlee powered Ginebra with 39 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal. Ahanmisi and RJ Abarrientos finished with 15 and 11, respectively.

The FiberXers thus won their third straight game and rose to 5-2, while the Gin Kings dropped to 3-2.