Hopson fires 46 Pts, Fiberxers torch Dyip

MANILA, Philippines —  For a change, a roaring start for Converge.

Hit hard by fumbling openings in the last two conferences, the fired-up FiberXers picked up a victory straightaway in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, doing so with an emphatic 127-95 rout of new-look Terrafirma last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Now under interim coach Franco Atienza, first assistant Charles Tiu and consultant Rajko Toroman and bannered by high-scoring import Scotty Hopson, the league’s youngest franchise turned up the heat in the third quarter, 47-18, to turn a four-point contest into a one-sided affair.

Hopson marked his PBA debut with 46 big points spiked by a perfect 3-of-3 from the four-point line as he gave the wings to the FiberXers in chalking up an early W coming off a horrendous Season 48. In the two-conference campaign, Converge limped with 0-6 to begin the Commissioner’s Cup and 0-8 to launch the Philippine Cup.

Former NBA player Hopson put his imprint in the game-changing third, where he dropped 12 and joined forces with Alec Stockton (13) in setting the tone for the 32-point rout in Group A.

“We defended well. Scoring was an offshoot of how we’re defending. We weren’t consciously trying to hit 100 points in the third; we just kept into our defense and our shots went in,” said Atienza after a first victory at the helm vice his former boss Aldin Ayo.

Hopson shot at an impressive 75 percent overall (18-of-24) while hauling down eight boards, issuing three assists and blocking two shots in 34 minutes of action.

“(Hopson’s) scoring is just a bonus for us. When we scouted him, we liked his leadership and ability to do it on both ends. He delivered an A performance today,” said Atienza.

Stockton finished with 21 while Schonny Winston and Justin Arana chipped in 14 and 13, respectively, as Converge spoiled the debut of Terrafirma’s high-profile trade acquisitions, Christian Standhardinger (17) and Stanley Pringle (team-high 19) and the return of import Antonio Hester (18-10) and forward Kevin Ferrer (18).

Meanwhile, holder TNT and Meralco dispute the early lead in Group A in an explosive clash of opening-game winners tonight also at the Big Dome.

Game time is set at 7:30 p.m. with the Tropa seeking a follow-up to their 101-95 disposal of the NorthPort Batang Pier, and the Bolts looking for back-to-back after their 99-94 verdict over the Magnolia Hotshots.

NLEX and coach Jong Uichico debut in the conference against a Blackwater side (0-1) reeling from its 97-110 defeat to Rain or Shine Tuesday.