Alec Stockton banks in game-winner as Converge completes Game 3 comeback vs. SMB

Down 0-2 in the series and 27 points today, Converge turned to Alec Stockton as they completed a dramatic 114-112 Game 3 comeback against San Miguel to extend their best-of-five quarterfinals series of PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup on Monday.

Stockton, who brushed off a physical altercation with San Miguel's Kris Rosales late in the first period, banked in the game-winning jumper over the stretched arms of CJ Perez to break a 112-112 deadlock and deliver the victory. The series, though, still favors San Miguel, 2-1.
 
"It's still far. Isa pa lang 'to. It's just one of the three (wins needed). When you think about it, it's hard to beat that team three straight but probably we'll take it 'yung one game muna," Converge head coach Franco Atienza said.

"But we know and we are aware that San Miguel will come back stronger. Siguro come Friday, sharper 'yun coming off a loss."

The same shot completed the huge come-from-behind win for Converge, who found itself in a 27-point hole after San Miguel went on a scoring tear in the third and built an 83-56 lead with import EJ Anosike and Perez dropping 13 and 11 in that juncture.

But Converge refused to go home tonight with Stockton, Bryan Santos, Schonny Winston, Justin Arana, King Caralipio, and reinforcement Jalen Jones conniving to get the fight back for them.

Santos drained four massive triples in the fourth before a Jones putback capped a feisty 36-15 Converge rampage to tie the game at 102-all with 3:41 remaining in the game.

Winston then took over, nailing back-to-back layups to give his side the lead at 108-107 before stealing the ball and issuing the pass to Stockton for a three-point lead.

A pair of free throws from Winston saw them at 112-109 lead, but Stockton's foul against Marcio Lassiter proved almost costly as the veteran sniper shot all of his three freebies for another deadlock with 6.2 seconds left.

Stockton, however, made up for it, knocking down a tough jumper as Converge lived to fight another day.

Converge will look to knot the series on Friday while San Miguel will hope to close it out.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News