Hopson fires dagger from 4-point territory

MANILA, Philippines — Scotty Hopson knocked down the biggest four-point bomb in PBA history to date.

And with it, Converge toppled defending champion TNT, 96-95, in a thrilling Governors’ Cup duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Presented with the opportunity to get the FiberXers ahead after playing catch up all game, Hopson cashed in and dribbled to a sweet spot in the right side of the new line from 27 feet away to launch “The shot.”

Nothing but net.

After being down by as many as 16, the FiberXers were up by one with 3.6 seconds to go. They stood one defensive stop away from completing the steal.

Preserving his historic four-ball winner, Hopson foiled Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s attempt at his own game-winner from underneath.

“In situations like that, I kind of get real calm, real confident and let my instincts take over,” said Hopson, who finished with 32 points, including two conversions from the four-point line, plus 10 rebounds to power Converge to a 2-1 record in a tie with the Tropang Giga in Group A.

“I’ve made many shots like that my whole career – game winners. That was just another shot that went in and all glory to God that shot went in,” he added.

Converge became the biggest winner of the PBA’s innovative shot.

“We wanted to go for the win,” Converge coach Franco Atienza said of the Hopson play. “That’s a nice innovation, it’s available to us so might as well use it.”

Deschin Winston complemented Hopson’s explosive game with 14, making seven of them in the fourth where the FiberXers completely turned it around with a 32-25 windup.

Justin Arana added 13, Kevin Racal had 12 and veteran Alex Cabagnot, ever the clutch player, shot 10, including a big three-point play that knotted it at 91-all.

Later, Justin Brownlee sizzled with a career-high 51 capped by the sealing layup as Barangay Ginebra (1-1) halted erstwhile unbeaten San Miguel Beer (2-1), 108-102.

Brownlee complemented his scoring rampage with 13 boards, six steals and five assists to get the Gin Kings on track after a 67-73 opening defeat to Rain or Shine Saturday in Candon, Ilocos Sur.