With a reloaded lineup, it was longtime Converge mainstay Alec Stockton that delivered the goods for the FiberXers against the Macau Black Knights to start the PBA 50 Commissioner's Cup.
When push came to shove, Alec Stockton delivered for Converge.
Stockton stepped up on both ends down the stretch as the FiberXers hammered out a 102-94 win over the Macau Black Knights in their PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup opener Wednesday.
The shifty guard made a couple of crucial baskets, including a tough layup that gave them a 96-92 buffer before import Kylor Kelley and Justine Baltazar brought the team home.
Stockton scored four points and made three steals in the fourth, ending up with team-high 18 points, three rebounds, three assists, and six steals.
“I think we just wanted to buckle down on defense. We weren’t really getting much on offense,” said Stockton after the match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“I’m just glad it worked out for us.”
Archie Concepcion finished with 16 points, Justin Arana turned in 15 points and six rebounds, while Baltazar had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the FiberXers.
Kelley also made his presence felt with 12 points, 19 rebounds, and four blocks in his PBA debut.
Two-time Finals MVP Mikey Williams made his PBA comeback but only played in the fourth quarter because the team needed to await clearance from FIBA.
He wound up with two rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
Meanwhile, Jenning Leung paced the Black Knights with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, and a steal, while Phoenix Shackleford added 20 points.
Converge vs Macau Scores:
CONVERGE 102 – Stockton 18, Concepcion 16, Arana 15, Baltazar 14, Policarpio 13, Kelley 12, Gomez de Liano 8, Garcia 4, Clemente 2, Williams 0, sMuyang 0, Reyson 0
MACAU 94 – Leung 22, Shakelford 20, Chongqui 19, Mitchell 18, Cao 7, Lao 6, Lu 2, Sun 0, Li 0, Chao 0
Quarterscores: 27-19, 49-53, 79-82, 102-94
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.