Atienza least surprised as King Caralipio emerges as POG in Converge win over Terrafirma

King Caralipio doesn’t always need the ball in his hands to make an impact for Converge.

But on Wednesday, May 28, he showed what he can do when he does.

Caralipio scored on two consecutive follow-ups in the fourth quarter to key the FiberXers' come-from-behind 117-103 win over Terrafirma in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

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That last play gave his team the lead for good, 98-95, with still 7:51 left in the match. The FiberXers outgunned the Dyip, 29-11, in the payoff period.

Named Player of the Game for the first time, Caralipio wound up with 18 points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the three-point area while also collaring 10 rebounds for Converge, which inched closer to a playoff berth with a 6-4 card.

“Ready lang naman po ako kung sakaling bunutin ako ni Coach Franco (Atienza). Ibinibigay ko lang ang best ko,” said Caralipio, a former Finals MVP for Letran in the NCAA.

Atienza saw this coming from a mile away.

“Naghihintay lang ako ng ganitong game [from him]. Confident ako. It’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when,” said Atienza of his prized guard.

"'Yong sipag, dedication, IQ at skill set niya, alam kong he belongs to the league at talagang makatutulong siya... So I’m the least bit surprised na maganda ang nilaro ni King ngayon.”

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But it was not just Caralipio who had a stellar game for the team that crawled back from an 18-point hole, 43-61.

Alec Stockton dropped 10 of his 17 points in the third period to help Converge turn the tables on its foe. He also had five assists and two steals.

Justine Baltazar posted a double-double of 17 markers and 10 boards he spiked with five assists, while Justin Arana also submitted his own double-double. (17-13).

At the onset, the Dyip looked bent on pulling the rug from under the FiberXers, going on a 39-29 start behind four triples and three four-pointers.

Terrafirma managed to keep Converge at bay for the most part but ran out of gas in the final period when the chips were down.

“Sinabi ko before this game na we’re not taking them lightly kasi any given time, they can beat any team, eh. That’s why those players are here in the PBA is because they’re capable,” said Atienza of the Dyip.

Stanley Pringle paced Terrafirma with 23 points built on four treys. He also had four rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Louie Sangalang shot 18 for the reeling Dyip, who dropped an eighth straight match for a 1-8 mark.

Converge vs Terrafirma scores:

CONVERGE 117 – Caralipio 18, Baltazar 17, Stockton 17, Arana 17, Winston 16, Racal 9, Delos Santos 6, Corpuz 5, B.Santos 4, Garcia 4, Suerte 4.

TERRAFIRMA 103 – Pringle 23, Sangalang 18, Zaldivar 17, Nonoy 15, Catapusan 12, Ferrer 11, Ramos 7, Melecio 0, Paraiso 0, Hernandez 0.

Quarterscores: 29-39, 58-65, 88-92, 117-103.