Juan Gomez de Liaño scored 32 points to lead Converge past Barangay Ginebra, 106-96, on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the PBA Philippine Cup. Gomez de Liaño shot 13-of-16 from the field, including a four-pointer and three triples, helping the FiberXers secure their fifth win in seven games.
The game was tied at 72 after the third quarter before Scottie Thompson briefly gave Ginebra the lead. Converge responded with an 11–0 run to regain control. Stephen Holt kept the Gin Kings in the game with 12 points in the fourth, but consecutive baskets from Gomez de Liaño and Alec Stockton extended Converge’s lead to 94–86.
Ginebra cut the deficit to five with 3:28 left, but Converge answered with a decisive 10–0 run, putting the game out of reach at 104–91. RJ Abarrientos made a late triple, but Gomez de Liaño and Abarrientos added finishing baskets to close the game.
Schonny Winston scored 21 points for Converge, while Justin Arana recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Justine Baltazar added 12 points. For Ginebra, Holt and Abarrientos led with 24 points each, while Thompson and Jayson David added 10 points apiece. Ginebra fell to 2-4 in the standings.
Scores:
Converge 106 – Gomez de Liano 32, Winston 21, Arana 13, Baltazar 12, Stockton 9, Concepcion 6, Garcia 4, Muyang 3, Javillonar 2, Delos Santos 2, Racal 2, Caralipio 0, Clemente 0, Santos 0, Eguilos 0.
Barangay Ginebra 96 – Holt 24, Abarrientos 24, Thompson 10, David 10, J.Aguilar 7, Gray 7, Cu 6, Rosario 6, Torres 2, R.Aguilar 0.
Quarters: 26-24, 54-49, 72-72, 106-96.