PBA: Alec Stockton catches fire late as Converge repels Rain or Shine to gain solo second

Alec Stockton ignited in the fourth quarter to help Converge turn back Rain or Shine, 103-96, and gain solo second in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The spitfire guard dropped 17 of his overall output in the payoff period as the FiberXers recovered from a sluggish start to bounce back from a narrow 98-96 loss to TNT last Saturday, improving to 7-3 while dealing the Elasto Painters their second straight loss to go 5-3.

Stockton finished with a team-high 21 points laced with four rebounds and five assists while Jordan Heading and Justin Arana chipped in 17 and 15 markers apiece with the latter adding 11 boards, two dimes, and two blocks.

"Going into this game we knew Rain or Shine likes to run, they're an offensive-minded team, not taking away anything on their defense," Converge head coach Franco Atienza said.

"It was really a grind out. Medyo mahirap 'yung match-up-an 'yung one-on-one. Medyo nasaktan din kami sa post, so it took a lot of our energy para ma-stop sila."

Converge didn't have the best start and at one point stared at a 17-point hole in the first quarter, but a 30-point outburst in the second period allowed the FiberXers to take a slim 47-43 lead at the break. They also held Rain or Shine to just 13 in that period.

They then detonated from downtown in the third period with Heading and Kevin Racal sending them to a 66-56 cushion.

But the Elasto Painters were fired up after their head coach Yeng Guiao was ejected from the game of the third following two technical fouls at the 4:45 mark. After the incident, they unleashed an 11-0 run instigated by back-to-back triples from import Deon Thompson.

Converge, though, replied with a 4-0 closing run to take a 73-69 cushion before heading to the final canto.

Stockton then presided in their fourth quarter breakaway, knocking down a triple and jumper followed by four straight points from Heading as they built a comfortable 94-83 advantage in the final four minutes.

He would then score six of their last nine points to seal it for Converge, which is eyeing to clinch one of the two twice-to-beat bonuses for the playoffs.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News