FiberXers rally, prevail over Tropang 5G in overtime

MANILA, Philippines -- Converge stormed back from 15 points down, gutting out a 114-112 overtime win over the TNT Tropang 5G in their PBA Governors’ Cup clash Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

With both teams already assured of a playoff berth, the FiberXers rose to third place in Group A play with an 8-4 win-loss record to finish the elimination round, giving them a more favorable matchup in the crossover quarterfinal round. 

TNT, on the other hand, dropped to a 7-5 slate, giving them a fourth-place finish in the elimination round, which will pit them against the top seed of Group B. 

Cameron Clark top-scored for the FiberXers, finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Juan Gomez-de Liano added 22 markers, eight dimes and three boards off the bench.

But it was Alec Stockton who came up as the savior for Converge. He scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half and overtime, to go with three assists, three rebounds and a block. 

The FiberXers trailed by 15, 71-86, with 1:20 left in the third quarter. 

TNT continued to pounce on their opponents as they maintained a double digit advantage with 2:43 remaining, 104-94, after a jumper by RR Pogoy. 

But Stockton came alive for the FiberXers, scoring or assisting on every point of Converge’s 12-2 run which included a last-second layup to tie things up at 106-all. 

Come the overtime period, the two teams traded baskets. 

After Jordan Heading knotted the game up at 112-all, Converge went to Stockton, who got the dipsy-doo on the layup that pushed them ahead, 114-112, with 11.3 remaining. 

Referees, though, reviewed it as Converge’s Justine Baltazar seemed to touch the rim on the shot. However, the officials counted it and it turned out to be the game-winning shot. 

In the next possession, TNT went to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who was clamped down on defense by Clark as he put up a wild shot as time expired. 

Baltazar added 19 points for the winning team, to go with 12 rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Jonnel Policarpio chipped 10 markers, seven dimes, five boards and four steals. 

Hollis-Jefferson powered TNT with 33 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in his second game back from an Achilles injury. Heading contributed 21 points, while Oftana and Pogoy had 14 and 12, respectively.