There’s a reason Alec Stockton has become a an All-Star caliber PBA player. Just ask Converge coach Franco Atienza.
Alec Stockton shied away from credit after making clutch plays in Converge’s pulsating 93-91 win over Magnolia in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday, Dec. 1.
In transition, Stockton pulled up for a three-pointer that tied the game at 91-all, before setting up Justin Arana for the go-ahead basket as the FiberXers improved to a 2-1 record.
Humble as ever, the spitfire guard deferred to his Converge teammates.
“Just like any other game, we want to give everything we have. Credit to or bench guys, sila KRacs (Kevin Racal), BJ (Andrade), they really stepped up in the second half. I wouldn’t have done this by myself,” he said with a smile.
“Justin (Arana) was big. Cheick Diallo was big on the boards. It was a collective effort for us. I think it just came down to my hands on those last seconds. I just worked on those.”
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While he would not admit it, Stockton is becoming a stone-cold killer on the court for the FiberXers.
It was none more evident in Game 3 of their recent Governors’ Cup quarterfinal series against juggernaut San Miguel, when he nailed the game-winner in the face of former Best Player of the Conference CJay Perez.
All these clutch plays were a testament to his dedication and hard work.
When he came into the league in 2021, Stockton was known prominently as a hard-nosed defender out of Far Eastern University.
“You see him coming out of FEU, isa lang ang skill nito: depensa. For all the aspiring ballers out there, 'yung hardwork at saka 'yung dedication you put in the game, hindi made-defeat ng kahit na ano 'yun. Hindi rin mabibili 'yun. It's right here,” said Converge coach Franco Atienza, pointing to Stockton’s heart.
[WATCH: Converge recovers with come-from-behind win over Magnolia | PBA Highlights]
Indeed, Stockton has put in the work day in and day out. After countless extended hours spent on extra practices, he has emerged as an all-star caliber player.
What’s even more impressive was that he approaches the game with a rookie’s gusto, hungry as ever to become better.
“You see him evolve into an All-Star caliber… you would agree with me on how nag-blossom ang career nito,” Atienza said.
“Still, kung ano ang hunger niya noong nagsisimula pa lang siya, 'yung parang one-dimension siya, ganoon pa rin. Or baka mas hungry pa siya. First in, last out. May extra practices pa 'yan.”
Stockton's dedication and hard work, which reaped only good things for him, could serve as a model for others to follow.
“So 'yung dedication and hard work, it really works. Kung wala ka at gusto mong i-develop, ito 'yung testament noon,” he said.
“Ako ang napapagod sa extra practices nito. But that’s the result. It paid off.”