PBA: Magnolia rolls past Converge for second win in a row

Magnolia has now won four of its last five games, unleashing a collective effort to pull off a 106-94 victory over Converge in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center Antipolo.

The Hotshots created a 20-point lead early in the fourth, but had to fend off the offensive explosion of Juan Gomez de Liaño en route to the 12-point victory as they now hiked their record to 4-4. 

Chapman, whose arrival midway through the conference helped stop Magnolia's 0-3 start, top-scored with 22 points together with 14 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks while Zav Lucero poured in a double-double as well with 17 markers, 14 boards, and two dimes. 

It was a balanced attack from the rest of the crew as all players fielded by Magnolia were able to score with Rome Dela Rosa and Jerom Lastimosa churning out 13 and 10 points apiece. 

"I always emphasize defense and basically I challenged them that this game is a playoff game for us. It's either them or us, 'yun lang 'yon because of our standings. Dikit-dikit din kaya every game counts," Magnolia head coach LA Tenorio said. 

Magnolia’s backcourt weapons punished Converge in the third with Lastimosa, Peter Alfaro, and Raffy Verano helping extend their slim  49-39 halftime lead to an 84-64 cushion esrly in the fourth.

However, the FiberXers responded with a big swing as Gomez de Liaño fired a four-point shot and Alec Stockton, and Archie Concepcion buried a triple each to pull within a single digit, 84-75.

Dela Rosa, though, completed a three-point play to stop the bleeding but Gomez de Liaño knocked down another four-pointer and a triple to cut the deficit to seven, 98-91, with 1:54 left.

The rookie star committed his fifth foul that led to two free throws by Paul Lee.

Converge got solid efforts from its local crew but only had a seven-point production from import Kylor Kelley.

Scores:

Magnolia 106 – Chapman 22, Lucero 17, Dela Rosa 13, Lastimosa 10, Koon 9, Sangalang 7, Alfaro 6, Lee 5, Barroca 4, Andrada 3, Verano 2, Gomez de Liano 2.

Converge 94 – Gomez de Liano 22, Stockton 19, Arana 15, Concepcion 14, Garcia 8, Kelley 7, Baltazar 6, Williams 2, Abueva 1, Policarpio 0.

Quarters: 22-15, 49-39, 74-64, 106-94.

—JKC, GMA News