Converge drubs Blackwater in bounce back win

Converge got its game going in the second quarter before heading into full throttle to blow out Blackwater, 111-80, for a rebound win in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Sunday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Justin Arana had a double-double to lead four other FiberXers in double-figure scoring in the game that started tight but turned into a lopsided affair as Converge improved to a 2-2 win-loss card.

“We know we will get our shots, but if we want to be a contender, we have to tighten up on our defense, however cliché it may sound,” FiberXers interim coach Franco Atienza said.

“If you want to go deep, your defense should be there.”

The FiberXers trailed in the opening quarter and into the early going of the second before blitzing their way in front by 11 at halftime.

Then came Converge’s third quarter storm, outworking the Bossing, 32-15, to build a 28-point cushion entering the final period.

It was all over but the shouting when Kamron Vigan-Fleming nailed a jumper that ballooned the advantage to 36 for a 111-76 count with 22 seconds left in the game.

Arana finished with 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while Schonny Winston added 16. Rookie big man Justine Baltazar got 16 markers and 10 boards while Rey Suerte and Bryan Santos registered 11 and 10 markers, respectively.

Blackwater remained winless in two tries with its starters getting outplayed by their Converge counterparts, 36-65.

RK Ilagan had 19 points and Richard Escoto finished with 11 as the only Bossing in double figures.

The scores:

CONVERGE (111) --– Arana 19, Winston 16, Baltazar 16, Suerte 11, B. Santos 10, Garcia 9, Delos Santos 7, Racal 5, Stockton 4, Fleming 4, Caralipio 4, Corpuz 3, R.Santos 2, Nermal 1

BLACKWATER (80) --- Ilagan 19, Escoto 11, Chua 9, Tungcab 9, Caperal 7, Kwekuteye 6, Barefield 5, Jopia 4, Guinto 3, Andrade 3, Ayonayon 2, Mitchell 2, Casio 0, Mallilin 0, David 0

Quarters: 21-24, 49-38, 81-53, 111-80