Playing against a decimated Blackwater side, Converge needed to grind it out in securing its fourth straight win.
But it was all worth it as the FiberXers continued to enjoy their longest winning streak in franchise history following a 77-71 triumph over the Bossing in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Just a game after setting franchise records for most points made in a game, most point-production in the first quarter and half time and most number of three-point shots made by a player, the FiberXers worked double time on the defensive end to outlast a banged-up Bossing team.
The FiberXers held the Bossing to just 12 points in the final quarter and took advantage on the absence of import Cameron Krutwig, who had to leave the game because of a hamstring injury.
Prior to the match, Blackwater already had several key players sidelined by injuries — Troy Rosario (plantar fasciitis), Baser Amer (right calf strain), and JVee Casio (groin injury).
Just recently, Rashawn McCarthy was added to the list of walking wounded players, but even with a shorthanded roster, the Bossing were still able to make a game out of it.
Aleck Stockton provided the spark off the bench, finishing with 15 points and eight boards, while Quincy Miller was able to manage to stay in the game despite being hounded by foul trouble to stabilize the FiberXers’ game on both ends of the court, allowing them to stretch their winning run to four, the best in the young history of the franchise.
Miller came away with 22 points, 19 rebounds and four blocks and staying in the game for a good stretch despite playing with five personal fouls.
Abu Tratter played one of his better games, finishing with a double-double performance of 12 points and 10 rebounds and provided the FiberXers a big lift in notching their fifth win in seven games to keep a firm grip of the solo third spot.
It was the first back-to-back losses for the Bossing, who dropped to 10th place with a 3-5 record and found themselves teetering on the brink of another early elimination.
The Scores:
CONVERGE (77) — Miller 22, Stockton 15, Tratter 12, Arana 8, Teng 8, Melecio 3, Ilagan 6, DiGregorio 2, Ahanmisi 1, Murrell 0, Tolomia 0, Racal 0.
BLACKWATER (71) — Krutwig 16, Suerte 15, Ular 13, Taha 10, Melton 6, Banal 3, Ebona 3, Ayonayon 3, Go 2, Jackson 0, Sena 0, Publico 0.
QUARTERS: 18-19, 34-32, 59-59, 77-71.
