Converge rolled to its fifth straight win at the expense of NLEX, 108-84, in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo Saturday.
The FiberXers improved to a 6-2 win-loss record despite playing without import Quincy Miller most of the way.
Miller left the game with 1:18 in the second period after he was called for a flagrant foul penalty 1, which automatically ejected him from the game. He was earlier slapped with a technical foul.
But even without Miller, the FiberXers still found the resolve to win with Aljun Melecio leading the way.
Melecio knocked in a career-high 24 points, 14 of them in the fourth period.
It was the third time in the last four games the 5-foot-8 gunner was able to establish personal-high outputs.
The Road Warriors trailed by as many as 26 points, 55-29, but came to within 80-70 off a Philip Paniamogan triple with still 9:11 left, but Melecio kept them at bay with his timely baskets to quell the rally.
Converge moves forward to its much-awaited encounter with Phoenix, also the hottest team in the league with a five-game winning streak in their next scheduled match on Wednesday.
“It will be like a collegiate matchup,” said Converge coach Aldin Ayo. “I know coach Topex (Robinson) and coach Jamike (Jarin), I can see all the things they’ve been doing, especially on the defensive end.
We’re familiar with each other.”
“We have the same approach, so it’s going to be an exciting game.”
The scores:
CONVERGE (108) — Melecio 24, Miller 15, Teng 14, Arana 12, Tratter 9, Stockton 8, Ambohot 7, Ahanmisi 6, Ilagan 5, Murrell 3, DiGregorio 3, Racal 2.
NLEX (84) — Ganuelas-Rosser 24, Clark 15, Paniamogan 15, Alas 14, Rosales 8, Nieto 8, Chua 0, Miranda 0, Fonacier 0.
QUARTERS: 34-17, 58-41, 80-60, 108-84.
