By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Converge FiberXers returned to their winning ways with a 98-90 victory over Blackwater Bossing in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday night, February 23.
Maverick Ahanmisi caught fire with seven three-point conversions to finish with a career-high 31 points, while Jamaal Franklin had double-double 19 points and 15 rebounds to go with five assists, three steals and two blocks for the FiberXers.
Jeron Teng chipped in 17 markers and six rebounds, while Alec Stockton also bounced back with 10 points as the FiberXers climbed to third place in the standings with a 6-2 win-loss slate.
Ahead 43-40 early in the third quarter, Ahanmisi caught fire with four straight outside conversions as the FiberXers pulled to a 56-46 lead. The Bossing cut it to 59-62, but more baskets from Ahanmisi widened Converge’s advantage to 78-66.
Converge went on to build its largest lead at 86-69 on a triple by Franklin and a basket by Stockton. Blackwater managed to cut it to nine points with two minutes left, but shots by Franklin and Ahanmisi sealed the win for the FiberXers.
Jeth Troy Rosario had his best game for Blackwater with 20 points, Shawn Glover added double-double 19 points and 10 rebounds, while RK Ilagan had 12 markers as the Bossing dropped to 1-8.
In the first game, Meralco Bolts got back on the winning track with a 114-98 domination over sister team NLEX Road Warriors. The Bolts improved to a 4-3 win-loss slate, while the Road Warriors dropped to 5-3.
Holding to a slim 90-85 lead midway in the fourth quarter, the Bolts leaned on back-to-back triples by Aaron Black and Allein Maliksi, and two free throws by KJ McDaniels for a 100-86 lead.
The Road Warriors made its last push at 91-102 on a three-pointer by Anthony Semerad, but the Bolts answered back with outside shots from Maliksi and Black and inside attacks from McDaniels as the lead swelled to 114-98.
McDaniels tallied double-double 31 points and 21 rebounds to lead the Bolts. Maliksi chipped in 19 markers, including four outside conversions, while Chris Newsome and Black had 18 and 15 markers, respectively.
CONVERGE 98 — Ahanmisi 31, Franklin 19, Teng 17, Stockton 10, Tratter 8, Arana 6, Ebona 3, Balanza 2, Racal 2, Murrell 0.
BLACKWATER 90 — Rosario 20, Glover 19, Ilagan 12, Amer 8, Banal 7, Hill 6, Torralba 6, Ular 4, McCarthy 3, Casio 3, Taha 2, Digregorio 0, Suerte 0.
Quarterscores: 21-14, 43-38, 78-66, 98-90./ASC, WDJ