Converge rings xmas bells

MANILA, Philippines —  Converge put a bow on a perfect Christmas week run  with a 110-94 toppling of Meralco in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta ColiseumThe fired-up FiberXers jumped right at the relatively rusty Bolts, 22-6, and stayed in control the rest of the way to make the reigning Philippine Cup kingpins their fourth victim in a spree they started on Dec. 17.

Prior to giving Meralco the Christmas Day blues, Converge outclassed NLEX, 102-91, then pulled off epic come-from-behind steals against Phoenix, 116-105, and Barangay Ginebra, 98-91.

With their 6-2 record, the FiberXers drew level with guest team Hong Kong Eastern behind pacesetting NorthPort (6-1) and red-hot Rain or Shine (4-2) before the year-end break.

Despite welcoming returning import Akil Mitchell and key locals Chris Banchero and Allein Maliksi back from sick bay, Meralco found itself on a two-game slump after winning its first three.

After having to climb out of a deep hole before hurdling Ginebra last Saturday and Phoenix previously, the FiberXers hit the ground running against the Bolts in their franchise-first Dec. 25 gig.

“Our previous wins, we were triggering at the start but ngayon, we were in control. So it’s nice when you learn a lesson from the last game na hindi kayo nasaktan. Usually that happens when you lose,” said coach Franco Atienza.

He added that Converge caught a break with the Bolts re-adjusting with the three returnees and still finding their groove in their first action since losing to Blackwater, 98-114, last Dec. 12.

“Putting it in context, Meralco is a championship caliber team but they’re also plagued with injuries. Mitchell, Banchero and Maliksi were just reactivated and they’re coming off injuries so maybe we were lucky they were not at their best form,” said Atienza.

“But they really competed and na-challenge din kami,” he added.

Jordan Heading sparked Converge with a 30-point sizzler spiked by a 4-of-6 three-point shooting that he complemented with six rebounds and eight assists.

Import Cheick Diallo turned in 24-19 and kept Mitchell (29-18) in check while top rookie pick Justine Baltazar produced 16 markers with seven boards.