FiberXers Surge Late to Dominate Fuel Masters

Donovan Smith made an immediate impact upon his return to Converge, leading the FiberXers to a dominant 130-103 victory over Phoenix in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Facing his former team, Smith wasted no time asserting his presence, scoring 32 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to propel Converge to back-to-back wins for the first time this conference. His stellar performance was key as the FiberXers seized control early and powered through with a strong third-quarter rally to secure the win.

With Phoenix import James Dickey III sidelined due to an ankle injury, Converge capitalized on the inside advantage, turning the game into a one-sided affair. The win improved the FiberXers to 4-6, pushing them past Terrafirma into ninth place, just outside the Top Eight and still within reach of a quarterfinal spot.

“Missing the contribution of our import, especially in scoring, was a big issue,” said head coach Delta Pineda. “We really needed a change, especially since we’re in a do-or-die situation. The import’s help was crucial.”

Converge’s win was far from a one-man effort, as the team displayed excellent ball movement and multiple players stepped up to contribute. Alec Stockton led the local players with 16 points, while Justine Baltazar posted a solid double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Justin Arana and Juan Gomez de Liano each added 13 points, combining for 17 rebounds and nine assists.

The FiberXers’ depth shone through as Calvin Abueva, Archie Concepcion, and Mikey Williams all contributed, and a total of 15 Converge players found their way onto the scoresheet in the wire-to-wire win.

Now gathering momentum at a crucial time, Converge looks to finish strong in the elimination round, with key matchups against NLEX on May 2 and Blackwater on May 9.

On the other hand, Phoenix saw its two-game winning streak come to an abrupt end after a thrilling 87-83 upset over Rain or Shine. Ricci Rivero led the Fuel Masters with 26 points and six rebounds, while Jason Perkins added 17 points and Ken Tuffin contributed 15. Tyler Tio and rookie Will Gozum chipped in 10 points each, but Phoenix was dominated on the boards, 71-35, as Converge controlled the paint throughout.

The loss dropped Phoenix to 5-4, disrupting its momentum ahead of a tough stretch, with upcoming matchups against TNT on May 1, Macau on May 6, and San Miguel Beer on May 9 in their quest to secure a playoff spot.

“It’s tough, but that’s basketball. No excuses,” said head coach Charles Tiu. “Even without the import, we should’ve competed better.”

“Maybe our guys were deflated a bit. Converge was hungrier, especially since they’re also in a must-win situation,” he added.