PBA: Converge torches new-look Terrafirma with 29-point beating to kick off PBA Commissioner's Cup

Converge turned to its scorching offense from beyond the arc to demolish a retooled Terrafirma, 116-87, and set the right tone to their PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup campaign on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena. 

The FiberXers fired 14 three-pointers in the game, including nine in the telling second half that completely took the fight out of the Dyip, to open their bid with a 1-0 card while the latter fell to a 0-1. 

Import Cheick Diallo showed a lot of promise in his debut, detonating with a double-double outing of 25 points and 16 rebounds to go with two assists, one steal, and one block while Justin Arana led the local support with 16 markers, 12 boards, and four dimes.

"As I've mentioned before the game, more than the win, more than the score, we look at the process and we look at how we played today," Converge head coach Franco Atienza said.

"And basing on this, we shot 51 [percent] from the field, we outrebounded them by half. It's just a good overall game for us, a good first game. I think we dictated the pace very well."

Converge, who was already enjoying a 59-42 lead at the break, suddenly caught fire at the tailend of the third period with Bryan Santos and Schonny Winston each burying a triple, both of which were set up by new guy Jordan Heading, as they cruised to an 86-64 cushion. 

Converge refused to slow down then with Mike Nieto knocking down two triples in a row before another Santos long bomb sent the FiberXers to another 22-point lead at 100-78. 

Even seldom-used Kamron Vigan-Fleming and big man Jeo Ambohot waxed hot from deep with the former Letran star sealing the victory with back-to-back triples for a 116-83 lead. 

Heading, who was traded to Converge from Terrafirma, was also solid in his PBA debut after posting eight points, four rebounds, and six assists while Santos and Nieto tallied 12 and 11 markers apiece. 

Terrafirma, meanwhile, failed to secure a victory after parading a new coach in Raymund Tiongco and a lot of new faces with Mark Nonoy, Stanley Pringle, Aljun Melecio, and Keith Zaldivar. 

CJ Catapusan starred for the Dyip with a team-high 13 points while Louie Sangalang, Pringle, and Nonoy each finished with 11 markers in the loss. 

Scores:

Converge 116 – Diallo 25, Arana 16, Santos 12, Nieto 11, Heading 8, Winston 7, Stockton 7, Ambohot 6, Fleming 6, Andrade 5, Racal 5, Fornilos 3, Javillonar 3, Santos 2, Cabagnot 0.

Terrafirma 87– Catapusan 13, Sangalang 11, Pringle 11, Nonoy 11, Richards 10, Carino 8, Hernandez 6, Ramos 5, Melecio 4, Paraiso 3, Ferrer 3, Zaldivar 2, Hanapi 2

Quarters : 34-16, 59-42, 86-67, 116-87.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News