CONVERGE OUTPLAYS NLEX
Converge’s youth brigade stepped up to the plate as the FiberXers outplayed the NLEX Road Warriors, 112108, to revive their quarterfinal aspirations in the PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Sophomore David Murrell dropped 21 points on a 10-of-14 clip against his former team, starting the fire that his current pals kept until the final push en route to the pull-around victory that pushed them to solo eighth at 3-5.
Murrell’s heads-up play rubbed off on fellow secondyear players Taylor Browne (15, all from beyond the arc) and RK Ilagan (10 assists and three points) and rookies Tyrus Hill (18) and Justin Arana (11) as the FiberXers rebounded from blowouts to San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra.
“What’s really impressive with the guys tonight was being able to bounce back from two tough losses,” said Converge coach Jeff Cariaso.
“The guys came out focused and I want to attribute that to the focus and energy they brought to practice. It carried over to this game.”
The FiberXers will try to sustain this in their remaining outings against NorthPort, Phoenix and Blackwater in their serious bid to make the playoffs in their PBA debut.
Murrell, Arana, Browne and Ilagan conspired in a 21-6 blast at the start of the fourth to give Converge a 98-82 cushion going to the last 5:07.
In the nightcap, June Mar Fajardo and Jericho Cruz punched in 30 markers apiece to power San Miguel Beer to a 115-99 disposal of holder TNT and into the solo lead at 7-1.
The playoffs-assured Beermen used a 62-point outburst in the second half to pull away from the Tropang Giga, whose five-game streak was snapped en route to a 7-3 card.
Kelly Williams posted 20 and 12 in his matchup with Fajardo, who pulled down 16 boards in his end. The scores: First Game Converge112 – Murrell 21, Hill 18, Browne 15, Arana 11, Ahanmisi 10, Adamos 9, Tratter 8, Ambohot 7, Bulanadi 4, Digregorio 3, Racal 3, Ilagan 3, Tolomia 0, Stockton 0.
NLEX 108 – Rosales 29, Alas 23, Trollano 18, Chua 15, Oftana 12, Quinahan 4,Paniamogan 3, Fonacier 2, Magat 2, Semerad 0, Soyud 0, Ighalo 0. Quarterscores : 19-15, 46-38, 77-76, 112-108 Second Game San Miguel 115 – Fajardo 30, Cruz 30, Enciso 16, Perez 12, Brondial 12, Herndon 5, Tautuaa 5, Lassiter 3, Zamar 2, Canete 0, Pessumal 0, Faundo 0.
TNT 99 – K. Williams 20, Castro 17, Erram 12, Montalbo 12, M. Williams 11, Pogoy 11, Rosser 10, Tungcab 3, Alejandro 3, Khobuntin 0, Marcelo 0.
Quarterscores: 26-22, 53-47, 83-71, 115-99
Eala crashes out
Alex Eala folded down the wire and absorbed a sorry 6-1, 4-6, 5-7 defeat against Alexandra Bozovic of Australia in the second round of the W25 Corroios-Seixal Ladies Open yesterday in Portugal.
Eala, who drubbed Spanish Eva Guerrero Alvarez in the first round, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, squandered a one-set lead and a 5-3 upperhand in the clincher to crash out of contention in the $25,000 tourney.
STANDINGS SAN MIGUEL 7-1 GINEBRA 6-1 BLACKWATER 4-1 TNT 7-3 MAGNOLIA 4-3 MERALCO 4-3 NLEX 4-4 CONVERGE 3-5 NORTHPORT 2-5 PHOENIX 2-5 RAIN OR SHINE 1-6 TERRAFIRMA 0-7