Romwel Anzures

The Converge FiberXers against the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup. Photo from PBA Images.

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1734438252092IMG_5944.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Converge FiberXers against the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup. Photo from PBA Images."/>The Converge FiberXers against the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — Top rookie Justine Baltazar finally chalked up his first PBA win as the Converge FiberXers bounced back from its previous mishap in their last outing.</div>This was after they pulled away late against the NLEX Road Warriors, 102-91, in the Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup faceoff on Tuesday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.Baltazar only had four points with four assists and seven rebounds in 22:51 minutes of gameplay, but at the forefront of the FiberXers’ return to the win column were reinforcement Cheick Diallo (37 points, 18 rebounds, two steals, two blocks), Alec Stockton (16 points, five rebounds, four assists) and Jordan Heading (14 points, 11 assists, four rebounds).”We’re coming off a loss, so we just wanted to go back to where we were going,” said Converge head coach Franco Atienza after the game as he talked about their previous defeat against the NorthPort Batang Pier.“We have five guys almost in double digits, and a good bounce-back game for [Diallo.] He proved himself right here,” he added.The former NBA player indeed proved himself as when it was only a two-point, 84-82 game with still eight minutes left in the contest, Converge suddenly led by 11, 93-82, after a nine-to-zero run that was sparked by baskets from Stockton and Diallo in over four minutesBaser Amer looked to keep the Road Warriors alive by bringing them to within seven, 93-86, after his four-pointer at the 3:46 mark, while a Robert Bolick bucket from the same area further cut their deficit to six, 96-90 with still 2:52 left in the game.Unfortunately for NLEX, Diallo made consecutive deuces to bring his team ahead once again by 10, 100-90, and that was all the FiberXers needed to move up to .500 with a 3-2 record.On the other hand, Road Warriors import Michael Watkins exploded for 36 points with 23 rebounds and three rejections, while Bolick followed with 26 markers, six dimes, a steal, and a block, but these went down the drain as NLEX absorbed its second straight loss and went down to 3-3. <div>The Scores:</div>Converge 102 – Diallo 37, Stockton 16, Heading 14, Caralipio 10, Winston 8, Racal 6, Baltazar 4, Arana 4, Santos 3, Delos Santos 0, Cabagnot 0, Nieto 0.NLEX 91 – Watkins 36, Bolick 26, Semerad 8, Alas 7, Amer 4, Torres 4, Valdez 2, Rodger 2, Herndon 2, Bahio 0, Policarpio 0.Quarterscores:  28-18, 52-44, 77-72, 102-91.

Top rookie Justine Baltazar finally chalked up his first PBA win as the Converge FiberXers bounced back from its previous mishap in their last outing.

Top rookie Justine Baltazar finally chalked up his first PBA win as the Converge FiberXers bounced back from its previous mishap in their last outing.

Balti chalks up first PBA win as Diallo, Converge pull away late vs. NLEX

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Balti chalks up first PBA win as Diallo, Converge pull away late vs. NLEX

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 17, 2024 08:35 PM PHT

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Justine Baltazar

Cheick Diallo

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