Scotty Hopson erupts for 46 as Converge thrashes Terrafirma in PBA Season 49 debut

Converge struggled last season, but the FiberXers made sure to have a different start this time around after routing a new-look Terrafirma, 127-95, in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Converge used a huge third quarter to pull away for good and improve to 1-0 in Group A while also spoiling the debut of former Ginebra teammates Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle as the Dyip fell to a 0-1 slate. 

The FiberXers, who finished dead last at least in the past two conferences with a 3-19 total win-loss record, turned a 53-49 halftime lead to a 23-point lead at one point in the third with Alex Stockton powering a 22-3 run for a 75-52 lead. 

Import Hopson and Bryan Santos then took care of business the rest of the period as they closed it out with a comfortable 100-67 cushion. 

Terrafirma mounted some fightback in the payoff period thanks to the hot hands of Kevin Ferrer, whose triple midway through the frame cut their deficit to just 20, 105-80. But that was the closest the Dyip could get with Converge holding on to its lead for good. 

The 35-year-old Hopson put the finishing kick, completing a two-handed slam off a Justin Arana dime before burying a triple then a four-pointer to send them to a 123-92 lead with still four minutes to go. 

Hopson top-scored in his PBA debut, pouring in a game-high of 46 points laced with eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal while Stockton finished with 21 markers. 

Deschon Winston and Arana chipped in 14 and 13 points apiece with the latter grabbing sic boards, five dimes, one swat, and one block. 

Pringle still came out as the leading scorer for Terrafirma with 19 points while Antonio Hester and Ferrer tallied 18 markers apiece. 

Scores:

Converge 127 – Hopson 46, Stockton 21, Winston 14, Arana 13, Racal 9, Santos 5, Delos Santos 4, Melecio 4, Maagdenberg 3, Andrade 3, Fornilos 2, Nieto 2, Ambohot 0, Caralipio 0, Fleming 0.

Terrafirma 95 – Pringle 19, Hester 18, Ferrer 18, Standhardinger 17, Tiongson 10, Ramos 5, Carino 4, Hanapi 2, Hernandez 2, Olivario 0, Cahilig 0.

Quarters: 34-25, 53-49, 100-67, 127-95.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News