Jordan Heading delivered a stellar performance on Christmas Day, dropping 30 points to propel the Converge Fiber Xers to a 110-94 victory over the Meralco Bolts in the 49th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Heading’s explosive outing extended the Fiber Xers’ winning streak to four games, boosting their overall record to 6-2 and moving them into a share of the third spot in the standings alongside Hong Kong Eastern. His efficient shooting—including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc—was complemented by six rebounds and eight assists, solidifying his all-around impact.
Cheick Diallo added 24 points for Converge, who set the tone early with a dominant 22-6 run in the first quarter. Justine Baltazar chipped in 16 points, including eight in the second quarter, as the Fiber Xers surged to a commanding 58-41 lead at halftime.
Coach Franco Atienza credited the team’s success to both strategy and timing. “This is a championship-caliber team. Maybe we were just lucky that they were not in their best form,” Atienza said, referring to the Bolts, who were adjusting to the addition of import Akil Mitchell while dealing with injuries to Chris Banchero and the acclimatization of Allein Maliksi.
Mitchell paced Meralco with 29 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Converge’s balanced attack. Bong Quinto also contributed 23 points for the Bolts, who now hold a 3-2 record and sit in sixth place.
The Fiber Xers continued to dominate in the third quarter, with Diallo scoring nine points to help extend their lead to 85-66. Converge’s cohesive play and defensive intensity kept Meralco at bay, securing a statement win for the team.
With their fourth consecutive victory, the Converge Fiber Xers have positioned themselves as strong contenders in the Commissioner’s Cup.
By Peter Atencio
Jordan Heading delivered a stellar performance on Christmas Day, dropping 30 points to propel the Converge Fiber Xers to a 110-94 victory over the Meralco Bolts in the 49th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Heading’s explosive outing extended the Fiber Xers’ winning streak to four games, boosting their overall record to 6-2 and moving them into a share of the third spot in the standings alongside Hong Kong Eastern. His efficient shooting—including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc—was complemented by six rebounds and eight assists, solidifying his all-around impact.
Cheick Diallo added 24 points for Converge, who set the tone early with a dominant 22-6 run in the first quarter. Justine Baltazar chipped in 16 points, including eight in the second quarter, as the Fiber Xers surged to a commanding 58-41 lead at halftime.
Coach Franco Atienza credited the team’s success to both strategy and timing. “This is a championship-caliber team. Maybe we were just lucky that they were not in their best form,” Atienza said, referring to the Bolts, who were adjusting to the addition of import Akil Mitchell while dealing with injuries to Chris Banchero and the acclimatization of Allein Maliksi.
Mitchell paced Meralco with 29 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Converge’s balanced attack. Bong Quinto also contributed 23 points for the Bolts, who now hold a 3-2 record and sit in sixth place.
The Fiber Xers continued to dominate in the third quarter, with Diallo scoring nine points to help extend their lead to 85-66. Converge’s cohesive play and defensive intensity kept Meralco at bay, securing a statement win for the team.
With their fourth consecutive victory, the Converge Fiber Xers have positioned themselves as strong contenders in the Commissioner’s Cup.
