Converge, Magnolia battles for quarters third seed

While the quarterfinals cast is already complete for the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, the game between Converge and Magnolia on September 23 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium will determine the final match-ups in the playoffs.

The two teams are now tied with 5-4 slate, and the winner of their 5:00 pm game will determine which squad will be the No. 3 seed in the next round and will face Group B’s No. 2 seed, San Miguel Beermen in a best-of-five series.

Meanwhile, the loser of the match will face the top-seeded Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

In their first match-up, the Hotshots relied on the steady performances of veterans Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca, and then-import Glenn Robinson III to pull off a 103-95 victory over the FiberXers.

Converge main man Alec Stockton was limited to his lowest output of the conference in that game, only producing three points off an and-one opportunity with less than three minutes in the game, while former import Scotty Hopson led the team with 26 markers.

Now parading new imports, both teams are eyeing the best possible seed that they can when the next round comes.

The FiberXers will now rely again on Jalen Jones who led the team with his 32 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in their last win against Meralco Bolts. It was also the team’s third straight victory. 
Stockton also played like an import in their last game, producing 27 markers, 11 boards, and five dimes.

On the other hand, Magnolia will parade their third import of the conference in Rayvonte Rice. He will take the place of Shabazz Muhammad, who’s suffering a swollen right knee that sidelined him in their last game against NorthPort.

Rice, the 32-year old product of University of Illinois, is not new in playing overseas leagues as he already reinforced teams to different countries such as Italy, France, Iran, Russia, Israel, Greece, Canada, Taiwan, and Japan.