Awesome Alec: Converge prevails; Hodge gets one-game ban, P100K penalty

Games Sunday:

(Ynares Center-Montalban)

5 p.m. — San Miguel Beer vs Terrafirma

7:30 p.m. — Magnolia vs Rain or Shine

Converge revved up in the second quarter and never lifted its foot on the gas pedal from there to leave NorthPort choking in its dust, 111-92, in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Friday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Alec Stockton shot the lights out with 33 points anchored on a 5-of-9 three-point shooting to lead the FiberXers’ rebound from a sorry setback to Barangay Ginebra in their previous outing to improve to a 5-3 win-loss record.

“I think coming from a loss from last game, definitely, happy (with the win) we’re able to bounce back this game. We’re not close to where we wanna be but we just want to keep on progressing to make a playoffs spot and work from there,” Stockton said, following his turnaround from only eight points in Converge’s 66-85 defeat last Saturday in Pampanga.

Schonny Winston had 22 points and nine rebounds, Justin Arana finished with a double-double of 18 points and 14 boards. Justin Baltazar added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the FiberXers, who were down by three at the end of the opening period but outscored the Batang Pier, 34-21, in the second quarter to set the tone for the blowout.

Converge erected its biggest lead, 107-84, with 4:07 left.

Meanwhile, Meralco’s Cliff Hodge was slapped with a one-game suspension and a P100,000 fine by the PBA Commissioner’s Office following a dangerous hard foul on Magnolia’s Zav Lucero late in their match last Wednesday.

Hotshots assistant coach Mon Jose will also serve a one-game suspension and a P20,000 fine after headbutting Hodge during the scuffle and bench-clearing that ensued in front of the officials’ table.

The sanctions were meted out Friday after the PBA Commissioner’s Office summoned those involved in the incident to hear their side.

Hodge dragged Lucero down by the neck after the young Magnolia winger stripped the ball off his hands at midcourt with 2:16 left in the game, which was all but decided with the Hotshots up by a mile. Magnolia won, 117-92, for a 6-0 record.

Hodge will sit out the skidding Bolts’ game against Blackwater on Wednesday, while Jose will skip the Hotshots’ faceoff with Rain or Shine on Sunday.

Marcial advised Hodge and Jose to control their emotions, and repetition of the incident will be dealt with severely.

In addition, Marcial admitted some lapses on the part of the league officials during the situation, as PBA Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro and head of referees Bong Pascual were also given a one-game ban each.

“There were procedure lapses that happened, so they were given suspensions,” he said, citing that they should’ve called Hodge for a flagrant foul penalty 2 for an automatic ejection instead of just a penalty 1 after the review.

Marcial added that they scratched off the technical foul called on Meralco captain Raymond Almazan during the scuffle, saying that the big man was only there to help pacify the situation.

“I was able to talk to Almazan yesterday (Thursday) and told him that we’ve rescinded the call. That’s a mistake on our part. Also, with us not throwing Hodge out that should’ve prevented the scuffle,” he said.

NorthPort dropped its fifth straight game after winning its debut outing.

Joshua Muñoz had 23 points while Will Navarro scored 20 and pulled down nine boards for NorthPort. Cade Flores and James Kwekuteye finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively, for the Batang Pier, who continued to miss the services of injured main gunner Arvin Tolentino (hip flexor).

The scores:

CONVERGE (111) — Stockton 33, Winston 22, Arana 18, Baltazar 10, B. Santos 7, Caralipio 7, Garcia 6, Suerte 4, Fleming 2, Nermal 2, Ambohot 0, R.Santos 0, Racal 0, Delos Santos 0.

NORTHPORT (92) — Munzon 23, Navarro 20, Flores 14, Kwekuteye 12, Bualandi 6, Miranda 5, Jalalon 4, Nelle 3, Onwubere 3, Cuntapay 2, Yu 0, Nava 0, Taha 0.

Quarters: 16-19, 50-40, 82-64, 111-92.