PBA: Juan Gomez de Liaño drops 32 as Converge downs Barangay Ginebra

Juan Gomez de Liaño erupted for 32 points as Converge defeated Barangay Ginebra, 106-96, on Friday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Gomez de Liaño shot 13-of-16 from the field, including a four-pointer and three triples, to lead the FiberXers to their fifth win in seven games.

The game was tied at 72 at the end of the third period before Scottie Thompson briefly put Ginebra ahead to open the fourth. Converge then responded with an 11–0 run to retake control.

Stephen Holt kept the Gin Kings in the game, scoring 12 points in a personal surge that countered Converge’s seven points until past the midway mark of the final frame. However, consecutive baskets from Gomez de Liaño and Alec Stockton gave Converge a 94–86 cushion.

Ginebra managed to cut the deficit to five with 3:28 remaining, but Converge answered with a decisive 10-0 run to pull away, 104-91, with 33 seconds left.

RJ Abarrientos knocked down a triple, but Gomez de Liaño immediately scored again, and Abarrientos added another basket to close the game.

Aside from Gomez de Liaño’s big night, Schonny Winston contributed 21 points, while Justin Arana posted a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds. Justine Baltazar added 12 points.

Holt and Abarrientos paced Barangay Ginebra with 24 points each, while Thompson and Jayson David chipped in 10 apiece as the Gin Kings slipped to 2-4.

Scores:

Converge 106 – Gomez de Liano 32, Winston 21, Arana 13, Baltazar 12, Stockton 9, Concepcion 6, Garcia 4, Muyang 3, Javillonar 2, Delos Santos 2, Racal 2, Caralipio 0, Clemente 0, Santos 0, Eguilos 0.

Barangay Ginebra 96 – Holt 24, Abarrientos 24, Thompson 10, David 10, J.Aguilar 7, Gray 7, Cu 6, Rosario 6, Torres 2, R.Aguilar 0.

Quarters: 26-24, 54-49, 72-72, 106-96.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News