MANILA, Philippines – At the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, the Converge FiberXers defeated the Meralco Bolts 110-94 in a thrilling game that went from end to end. Converge’s victory put them on a solid 6-2 record in the mid-season conference and their fourth straight win.

Jordan Heading, who finished with a game-high 30 points and eight assists, spearheaded the FiberXers’ attack. Bring in Justine Baltazar had his finest scoring performance of the season with 16 points, and Cheick Diallo was a powerful presence inside, ending with 24 points and 19 rebounds. Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston both scored in double figures and contributed significantly.

Converge took the lead right away, sprinting to a 16-point advantage in the first frame. The team continued to play with intensity, increasing the lead to 20 points in the fourth quarter. The FiberXers controlled the pace and avoided falling behind, in contrast to their last game against Barangay Ginebra, where they had to overcome a 17-point deficit.

Meralco’s injury-plagued lineup, which was missing a number of important players, was partially responsible for the victory, according to acting head coach Franco Atienza. Meralco worked hard and was competitive, but Converge took advantage of the Bolts’ small squad and made changes to keep up their pace.

In contrast to their past performances, where they frequently got off to a bad start and had to rally late, the FiberXers showed better poise. Atienza emphasized how the team corrected early errors and kept control of the game by applying the lessons learned from their previous match against Ginebra. Converge was able to successfully carry out their game plan and avoid the problems of a slow start because to their preparation and concentration.

With 29 points and 18 rebounds, Akil Mitchell was the most impressive player for Meralco, followed by Bong Quinto with 23 points. Despite Cliff Hodge’s ten points, the Bolts were unable to get reliable scoring assistance from their other players. Usually a dependable player, Chris Newsome only scored nine points in an unusually quiet performance. Allein Maliksi and Chris Banchero, who are playing for the first time this conference, combined for just 11 points.

The fact that important players like Raymond Almazan, Brandon Bates, and CJ Cansino were unable to participate because of injury made Meralco’s problems much worse. With a 3-2 record, the Bolts are still in a competitive position despite their difficulties and will want to get back on track over the holiday break. They intend to deploy a healthy roster for their upcoming match against Hong Kong Eastern on January 5.

The FiberXers’ triumph demonstrated their increasing self-assurance and unity as a group. Converge has established itself as a strong contender for the Commissioner’s Cup by fixing its shortcomings from prior games and keeping control against a weaker opponent. The team will want to maintain their momentum as they advance farther in the tournament, still riding high on their winning streak.

The defeat made Meralco realize how difficult it is to compete without a fully healthy lineup. The Bolts are still hopeful about their chances, though, as they expect that injured players will return to give them the depth and firepower they need for the remaining games.

Meralco will concentrate on recuperation and getting ready for their January schedule, while Converge will look back on a strong performance that demonstrated their promise as both teams head into the holiday break.

Scores at the end of the match

CONVERGE with 110 points for the win

Individual scores: Heading 30, Diallo 24, Baltazar 16, Winston 11, Stockton 10, Arana 7, Andrada 5, Racal 3, Delos Santos 2, Santos 2, Fornillos 0, Nieto 0, Ambohot 0, Caralipio 0, Javillonar 0.

MERALCO with 94 points

Individual scores: Mitchell 29, Quinto 23, Hodge 10, Newsome 9, Banchero 6, Maliksi 5, Reyson 3, Pascual 3, Black 2, Rios 2, Caram 2, Torres 0.

Scores per quarter

26-20, 58-41, 85-66, 110-94