Converge clamps Macau late; Terrafirma rains 3s in PBA 50 Commissioner’s Cup opener

Defense carried the Converge FiberXers in crunch time while the Terrafirma Dyip caught fire from beyond the arc as both teams opened their campaigns with victories in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, March 11.

Converge held guest team Macau Black Knights scoreless over the final 5 minutes and 47 seconds to escape with a 102–94 win in the nightcap.

In the mostly tight contest, Alex Stockton produced 18 points and six steals for the FiberXers, Archie Concepcion added 16 points, while Justine Baltazar added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

FiberXers head coach Delta Pineda admitted the team struggled late in the first half and in the third quarter but praised his players for stepping up defensively in the closing minutes.

Stockton, who was named best player of the game, stated postgame that they wanted to buckle down defensively to make up for their lackluster offensive production.

“The coaching staff adjusted really well, they told us to stay home and make sure we contain Damian [Chongqui], and he was doing really well. I’m just glad it worked out for us,” Stockton added.

In the loss, Black Knights guard Jenning Leung finished with 22 points, five assists and five rebounds, while Phoenix Shackleford scored 20 points and Damian Chongqui added 19 points and seven assists.

Behind rookie sensation Juan Gomez de Liano’s chemistry with big men on the pick-and-roll, Converge carved an early lead throughout the first quarter and at the start of the second frame, until Macau unloaded a 16–9 run midway through the period to take control of the game.

The Black Bears continued the momentum and built an 11-point lead after halftime, however, the FiberXers leaned on fastbreak points and layups to swiftly shift the game back into a tight affair until the end.

Terrafirma pulls away early

Earlier in the doubleheader, Terrafirma waxed hot from three-point range to finish the second and third quarters to pull away with a 112–82 win over the Titan Ultra Giant Risers.

It had been a close duel from the opening tip up to halfway through the second quarter, until Dyip import Ali Mubashar led a 17–2 closing run with two triples, taking a three-point deficit into a 12-point advantage at the break.

Later on to end the third quarter, Terrafirma guard Jerrick Ahanmisi capped off a 17-point third quarter by fueling a 16–2 onslaught to take the game out of reach as the Dyip led 89–62 entering the fourth frame.

In his PBA debut, Mubashar put up 27 points and 11 rebounds, Ahanmisi finished with 26 points, while Joseph Eriobu ended the day with 17 markers after providing scoring in the early parts of the game.

Meanwhile, Giant Riser import Michael Gilmore’s 33-point, 13-rebound performance went in vain, as former Terrafirma No.1 overall pick Joshua Munzon fired 32 markers.

Both winners are set to face each other on March 14 at the Ynares Center at 5:15 p.m., while Macau is slated for battle against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at the same venue at 7:30 p.m., with Titan Ultra having their next game against the Phoenix Fuelmasters on March 15 still at the same venue.