(PBA image)
Converge rediscovered its edge just in time, snapping a two-game skid and keeping its Top Four hopes alive with a gritty 107-95 overtime victory over NLEX in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday.
Locked in a tense battle through regulation, the FiberXers saved their best for extra time, blasting the Road Warriors with a decisive 17-5 run to seal the win and finish the elimination round at 7-4. Their final playoff seeding, however, remains up in the air as the race for the Top Four stays tightly packed pending the remaining games.
Justine Baltazar delivered the performance of his young career, erupting for 25 points and a staggering 24 rebounds to anchor Converge on both ends of the floor. Juan Gomez de Liaño was just as impactful, stuffing the stat sheet with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to power the FiberXers into provisional third place behind Rain or Shine and San Miguel Beer, both at 8-2.
TNT, currently at 6-3, along with Meralco, Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra, still remain in the mix and could yet overtake Converge in the standings.
The Road Warriors, playing without star guard Robert Bolick who is on national team duty at the SEA Games in Bangkok, saw their own playoff push take a hit as they slipped to 6-5 despite controlling large stretches of the contest.
NLEX appeared on the verge of stealing the game before Jonel Policarpio forced overtime with a desperation four-pointer at the buzzer, a shot that stunned the crowd and briefly swung momentum their way. But that miracle proved to be the Road Warriors’ last gasp.
Justin Arana, MJ Garcia and Gomez de Liaño ignited Converge’s overtime assault with an opening 8-0 run, and NLEX never recovered as the FiberXers tightened their defense and dictated the pace to the finish.
“Ang hirap talagang lumamang sa NLEX, ayaw nilang magpatalo,” Baltazar said after the game. “Pero mabuti na hindi naman kami bumitaw hanggang dulo.”
Scores:
Converge 107 — Baltazar 25, Gomez de Liaño 20, Arana 19, Muyang 12, Concepcion 11, Garcia 6, Stockton 5, Manuel 5, Winston 4, Racal 0, Eguilos 0, Caralipio 0, Clemente 0, Delos Santos 0
NLEX 95 — Alas 19, Torres 16, Nieto 12, Policarpio 11, Bahio 11, Ramirez 10, Onwubere 7, Mocon 4, Rodger 3, Fajardo 2, Amer 0, Herndon 0
Quarter scores: 18-17, 35-41, 62-67, 90-90, 107-95 (OT)
