MANILA, Philippines — Cameron Clark wasted no time making his presence felt as the new import of the Converge FiberXers, delivering a monster performance to lift his team past an import-less NLEX Road Warriors, 112-110, in a thrilling PBA Governors’ Cup elimination-round battle Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Clark took advantage of the matchup problems created by the absence of NLEX reinforcement DeQuan Jones, who suffered a gruesome lower-leg injury earlier in the week, and erupted for 37 points and 12 rebounds.
His production proved crucial as Converge survived a determined NLEX squad that refused to back down despite playing without an import.
The victory gave the FiberXers their second consecutive win and improved their record to 5-4, moving them into third place in Group A behind league-leading NLEX and San Miguel, both carrying 7-2 records.
Clark Makes Immediate Impact for Converge
Clark, who only joined Converge this week after replacing Jamaal Franklin, immediately showed why the FiberXers made the change in reinforcement.
With NLEX lacking its import, Clark aggressively attacked the Road Warriors’ defense from the opening minutes. His combination of scoring, rebounding and physical play consistently created problems for NLEX.
Rather than allowing the absence of Jones to dictate the game, NLEX compensated with a balanced offensive attack. The Road Warriors led 30-22 after the opening period, putting early pressure on Converge.
But the FiberXers gradually settled into the game.
The teams entered halftime tied at 51-all, setting up a tense second half.
NLEX regained control in the third quarter, taking a 79-74 lead heading into the final period. However, Converge responded with its strongest offensive stretch of the night when the game mattered most.
Gomez de Liano and Arana Deliver in the Fourth
While Clark carried much of the scoring load, Juan Gomez de Liano and Justin Arana provided the timely support Converge needed.
Both players finished with 19 points, and their contributions became particularly important in the payoff period.
Gomez de Liano and Arana combined for 23 points in the fourth quarter, helping Converge turn a five-point deficit into a six-point advantage.
The FiberXers outscored NLEX 28-21 in the final 12 minutes, completing the comeback and putting themselves in position to close out the contest.
Converge eventually established a 112-106 lead with only 13.2 seconds remaining, but NLEX still had one final push.
The Road Warriors refused to surrender, making the final seconds tense before Converge finally secured the two-point victory.
Pineda Wants Better Defense
Despite the win, Converge head coach Delta Pineda admitted there are still areas the team needs to improve, particularly on the defensive end.
The FiberXers had just defeated Terrafirma 120-103 three nights earlier, making Friday’s result their second straight victory after enduring a four-game losing streak.
However, Pineda pointed out that allowing an import-less NLEX team to score 110 points highlighted defensive concerns that need to be addressed during the upcoming break.
“Back-to-back wins, but I think we need more adjustment on our defense,” Pineda said after the game.
The extended break gives Converge an opportunity to work on those issues before the Governors’ Cup resumes.
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NLEX Gets Strong Production Despite Missing Jones
NLEX may have fallen short, but the Road Warriors showed tremendous resilience.
Ljay Gonzales led the team with 23 points, while Robert Bolick added 19. Schonny Winston contributed 17 points, and Justin Bahio finished with 16.
Their balanced scoring allowed NLEX to remain competitive throughout the contest despite the absence of Jones.
The Road Warriors had been one of the stronger teams in Group A, entering the contest with a 7-1 record. Despite the loss, they remained near the top of the standings at 7-2.
NLEX has already moved quickly to address its reinforcement situation, tapping Deonte Burton as its new import. Burton is expected to take over when the league resumes action on October 7.
Converge Builds Momentum Before Long Break
For Converge, the win could prove significant as the team heads into the nearly two-month break.
The FiberXers have now won consecutive games after their four-game skid, and the arrival of Clark appears to have provided the offensive spark they needed.
Clark himself emphasized that the priority now is building chemistry with his new teammates and maintaining the momentum they have created.
“I’m just trying to be aggressive. I know they didn’t have an import, so I tried to cause matchup problems, attack and give my teammates open shots,” Clark said.
The new Converge import also acknowledged that the team still has work to do.
The FiberXers currently sit at 5-4, ahead of other playoff contenders such as TNT, Terrafirma, Macau and Titan Ultra. With the standings tightly packed, every victory could become valuable when the elimination round resumes.
For now, Converge can celebrate a hard-earned victory.
Clark delivered the headline performance, but the win ultimately came from a collective effort. Gomez de Liano and Arana stepped up when the game entered its decisive stretch, while the rest of the FiberXers held their ground against an NLEX team playing with nothing to lose.
The final score may have been separated by only two points, but the victory gives Converge something much more important heading into the break: momentum, confidence and renewed belief in its playoff push.
The Scores
CONVERGE 112 — Clark 37, Arana 19, Gomez de Liano 19, Baltazar 11, Abueva 6, Garcia 5, Williams 4, Stockton 3, Tungcab 3, Policarpio 3, Concepcion 2.
NLEX 110 — Gonzales 23, Bolick 19, Winston 17, Bahio 16, Semerad 9, Ramirez 8, Capulong 5, Valdez 5, Gamboa 4, Racal 2, Alas 2, Rodger 0, Fajardo 0, Torres 0, Nelle 0.
Quarter scores: 22-30, 51-51, 74-79, 112-110.
