Why not go for four instead of three? Scotty Hopson and the Converge FiberXers took the risk and it paid off vs. TNT in the PBA Governors' Cup.
In one night, Scotty Hopson might have turned the four-point line from novelty to a necessity.
Hopson drilled a clutch four-point attempt with under five seconds left that completed Converge FiberXers' stunning comeback against the TNT Tropang Giga, 96-95, in PBA Governors’ Cup action.
And in the eyes of interim coach Franco Atienza, this is a sign that the newly installed line must be taken seriously.
“This is the proof of the four-point line. Without the four-point line… we’re probably going to overtime but I don’t know our chances in overtime,” Atienza told reporters in the post-game press conference.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Scotty Hopson hits 4-point game-winner as Converge stuns champion TNT]
Converge outscored TNT, 56-39, in the final two quarters, and clawed back from 16 points down capped off by a clutch Hopkins basket.
The 35-year-old described his heroics as just another day at the office.
“In situations like that, I get real calm and confident to let just my instinct take over.” Hopson bared.
“I’ve made those shots in my career in terms of game winners so this was just another [shot] that went in.”
Hopson finished the game with a team-high 32 points, 10 rebounds, four dimes and connected on two in three attempts in the four-point line.
Atienza lauded Converge’s resiliency to stick to the game plan and took advantage of the opportunity to win the game at any cost.
“We just grinded it out, stuck to our system, did what we do best and just giving us a chance to win in the endgame, that’s what’s most important.”
Up next for Converge are the NorthPort Batang Pier on Thursday, August 29 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.