Converge erases 20-point deficit to snatch their second win of the Conference

Alec Stockton’s heroics led Converge in climbing back from a 20-point deficit to defeat Magnolia, 93-91, and registered their second win in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.

The spitfire guard finished with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, issued 10 assists, and grabbed seven rebounds to be named Player of the Game.

In the first half, the Hotshots seemed to control the tempo of the game behind the hot shooting backcourt duo of Jerom Lastimosa and Jerrick Ahanmisi to steer their team to a 53-38 lead.

After the break, Magnolia managed to erect a 20-point lead but the FiberXers managed to trim down the lead to eight at the end of the third period.

In the final quarter, the Hotshots still held on to the lead until Stockton tied the game at 91 with 43.7 seconds left in the game.

After the timeout play, Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero missed his jumper leading Stockton to get the defensive board and set the play for Converge. He then dished off an assist to a wide open Justin Arana with 5.8 seconds left on the clock.

Another timeout was called by the Hotshots to set one more play. The first one was stopped by the FiberXers as Schonny Winston used their foul-to-give and only gave Magnolia 3.6 seconds remaining to set their play.

The next play was stopped again as Jordan Heading tapped the entry pass of Ahanmisi to take away another second of the clock.

Paul Lee then inbounded at the baseline and found Ahanmisi at the corner who dribbled the ball away from his defender and took a three-pointer but missed his shot at the buzzer.

The comeback win improved Converge conference record to 2-1, while Magnolia dropped to 1-1.

CONVERGE 93 – Arana 24, Stockton 18, Racal 10, Diallo 10, Heading 8, Santos 8, Andrade 5, Winston 5, Nieto 3, Delos Santos 2.

MAGNOLIA 91 – Ratliffe 25, Lastimosa 14, Sangalang 12, Ahanmisi 12, Lee 10, Lucero 10, Barroca 6, Laput 2, Dela Rosa 0, Dionisio 0.

Quarter Scores: 22-26; 38-53; 67-75; 93-91.