John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

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PBA IMAGES17

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764934599475PBA IMAGES17.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Converge big man Justine Baltazar in action. <em>PBA Images</em></span></span></span></div><p>ANTIPOLO, Rizal — Converge broke away from the second-place logjam and joined NLEX and Rain or Shine on top by soaring past Magnolia, 114-97, as PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup action resumed on Friday at the Ynares Center here.</p><p>With the win, the FiberXers barged into the quarterfinals, gaining a 6-2 win-loss card, and have boosted their chances for a twice-to-beat advantage. </p><p>They were coming from a two-game winning run before the two-week league break commenced.</p><p>Despite the win, coach Delta Pineda remained focused on the higher reward—securing a Top 4 finish.</p><p>&quot;Pangarap pa rin naming pumasok sa Top 4,&quot; said Pineda during the postgame press conference.</p><p>Converge slowly pulled away in the fourth frame, as Justine Baltazar sparked a 10-2 run from the 82-80 count, installing a 10-point 92-82 lead with less than six minutes remaining.</p><p>The Converge cushion even ballooned to 19 late, 114-95, as the FiberXers stamped their class and denied any Hotshots comeback.</p><p>Rising star Juan Gomez de Liano finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Player of the Game Baltazar had a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Alec Stockton wrapped up with 23 markers.</p><p>Zav Lucero was spectacular for Magnolia as he had 31 points, but was down the drain as the LA Tenorio-coached side absorbed the loss, going down to 5-3.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The Scores:</strong></div><p><strong>CONVERGE 114</strong> – Gomez de Liano 27, Stockton 23, Baltazar 19, Concepcion 11, Winston 10, Arana 9, Garcia 7, Muyang 6, Caralipio 2, Racal 0, R. Santos 0, Delos Santos 0, Javillonar 0</p><p><strong>MAGNOLIA 97</strong> – Lucero 31, Lastimosa 13, Barroca 10, Gomez de Liano 10, Laput 8, Eriobu 7, Lee 7, Dela Rosa 5, Koon 4, Sangalang 2</p><p><strong>QUARTERS: </strong>19-27, 42-50, 78-77, 114-97</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gkw7Z3KZy5A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Converge broke away from the second-place logjam and joined NLEX and Rain or Shine on top by soaring past Magnolia, 114-97, as PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup action resumed on Friday at the Ynares Center Antipolo. #PBA50</p>

Converge broke away from the second-place logjam and joined NLEX and Rain or Shine on top by soaring past Magnolia, 114-97, as PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup action resumed on Friday at the Ynares Center Antipolo. #PBA50

PBA: Converge soars past Magnolia to barge into quarterfinals

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PBA: Converge soars past Magnolia to barge into quarterfinals

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 05, 2025 07:55 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 05, 2025 09:44 PM PHT

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