Hudson leads balanced attack as Converge routs Titan Ultra in Governors' Cup debut

Converge opened its Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors' Cup campaign in dominant fashion, overpowering an import-less Titan Ultra side, 105-74, on Saturday at Ynares Center II in Montalban.

Taking advantage of the Giant Risers' continued struggles with their import situation, the FiberXers established control early and never looked back. Converge jumped to a 19-9 lead in the opening quarter before breaking the game open with a 31-point second period, heading into halftime with a commanding 50-26 advantage.

Titan Ultra endured a difficult night offensively, especially from three-point range. The Giant Risers missed all 17 of their attempts from beyond the arc in the first half, setting a new PBA record for the most three-point attempts without a conversion in a single half.

Brian Sajonia eventually ended the drought by sinking a four-point shot in the second half, but Titan Ultra failed to recover as Converge continued to control the tempo until the final buzzer.

FiberXers head coach Delta Pineda highlighted the team's improved chemistry compared to their previous conference struggles.

"Compared to the last conference, the chemistry among the players has improved and things are starting to come together," Pineda said.

Returning import Jalen Hudson made a strong comeback to the PBA, leading Converge with 20 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in his first game since his stint with TNT.

Archie Concepcion provided instant offense off the bench with 16 points, while Justin Arana added 14 points and five rebounds. Mikey Williams also contributed 13 points as the FiberXers displayed their offensive depth.

Calvin Abueva and Justine Baltazar combined for 12 points and 21 rebounds, helping Converge dominate the boards, 67-42. The FiberXers also showcased excellent ball movement, finishing with 28 assists.

Converge utilized 14 players in the victory, including top Rookie of the Year contender Juan Gomez de Liano, who returned after suffering an ankle injury while playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers against Australia earlier in the week.

Gomez de Liano finished with two points but nearly recorded a triple-double, adding nine rebounds and nine assists in 25 minutes of action.

Converge will try to maintain its momentum when it faces Terrafirma on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Titan Ultra, meanwhile, dropped to 0-2 in the conference despite 14 points each from Sajonia and Fran Yu. King Caralipio added 10 points in the losing effort.