Converge triumphs in OT vs Terrafirma
MANILA, Philippines — Ranged against an opponent that’s currently on a skid, Converge felt yesterday’s duel with Terrafirma was its best chance to break through.
And the FiberXers made it count.
Powered by Jamil Wilson’s endgame heroics, Aldin Ayo’s charges finally triumphed after a 0-6 start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 103-94 overtime verdict over the Dyip at the PhilSports Arena.
After dropping 12 in the fourth, Wilson ignited a pivotal 11-0 counter assault to Juami Tiongson’s opening salvo in extra time and lifted Converge to a 99-90 cushion with 1:42 to go.
The former LA Clippers player finished with 32 points on top of 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks to spearhead Converge in this successful effort to snap out of its funk.
The FiberXers’ slump actually extended back to the previous season as they also dropped their last four matches in the Governors’ Cup. It was their first W since a 98-90 disposal of Blackwater last Feb. 23 before they reeled to 10 straight losses prior to last night.
“It was tough. Everybody was disappointed, everybody was getting frustrated because of the results of our past games. But we just continued preparing, practicing hard,” said Ayo.
The Dyip fell to their third straight loss and 2-5 overall.
Wilson noted his improved chemistry with his teammates, compared to when he first suited up last week fresh from arrival.
“I had been here two days when I played (first game). So just having a week (more) under my belt for practice, getting to know these guys and what they like to do, that makes all the world of difference,” he said.
“You can tell just how comfortable we were in certain things we did and how much confidence the guys played with.”
Converge threatened to blow past Terrafirma when it went up by 11 in the third and later took a three-point spread in the last 9.9 seconds of the fourth.
But each time, the Dyip fought back hard, most especially in the dying seconds of regulation when Javi Gomez de Liaño hit a big-time trey off the glass off a broken play to knot the count.
Converge rookie Schonny Winston turned in a strong performance of 17 spiked by two free throws that made it 101-91 in OT plus six boards as did sophomore Justin Arana who chipped in 14 and 8.