Alec Stockton of Converge takes a shot against Magnolia in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup, December 1, 2024 at the Ynares Center, Antipolo. PBA ImagesMANILA -- Alec Stockton took charge in crunch time to lift Converge to a 93-91 come-from-behind win against Magnolia in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center.

The FiberXers trailed by as many as 20 points in the second half, but dominated the final period to secure their second win of the conference.

Stockton flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists and seven boards while Justin Arana top-scored with 24 points on top of seven rebounds.

Converge got the job done even with import Cheick Dallo struggling from the field, as he was limited to 4-of-15 shooting for only 10 points. The reinforcement did grab 16 rebounds in a 42-minute shift.

"It says a lot about our culture. Winning something like this is like a playoff game. It's a good win for a young franchise like us, a young team like us, because this is what makes ballers," said Converge coach Franco Atienza.

Stockton and Kevin Racal waxed hot in the third period to help the FiberXers claw their way back, and they entered the final frame down by single-digits, 75-67.

They went on to out-score Magnolia 26-16 in the fourth, with Stockton putting the finishing touches on their comeback.

He pulled up for a three-pointer in transition to knot the count at 91 with 43.7 seconds left, before the FiberXers forced Magnolia's Zav Lucero into a missed jumper with 23 seconds to go. Stockton then found Arana wide open under the rim for the go-ahead bucket with just 6.3 seconds left in the contest.

The Hotshots still had a chance, but Jerrick Ahanmisi's potential game-winning three-pointer clanked off the iron as time expired. 

"Seems impossible but the thing that brought us there is the belief of the players. They just didn't give up," Atienza said of their win.

The FiberXers bounced back from a previous loss to guest team Eastern, improving to 2-1 in the conference

Meanwhile, Magnolia is now at 1-1. Ricardo Ratliffe led the Hotshots with 25 points and 19 rebounds, while five locals scored in double-digits, led by rookie guard Jerom Lastimosa's 14 points.

The Scores :

CONVERGE 93 – Arana 24, Stockton 18, Racal 10, Diallo 10, Heading 8, Santos 8, Andrade 5, Winston 5, Nieto 3, Delos Santos 2

MAGNOLIA 91 – Ratliffe 25, Lastimosa 14, Sangalang 12, Ahanmisi 12, Lee 10, Lucero 10, Barroca 6, Laput 2, Dela Rosa 0, Dionisio 0

QUARTERS :  22-26, 38-53, 67-75, 93-91