Half of Converge’s total wins this PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup came from Scotty Hopson’s game-winning quadruple.
All signs were pointing toward a breakthrough win for Terrafirma at the expense of Converge.
Until a familiar move and person rescued the FiberXers from the jaws of defeat.
Scotty Hopson drilled another game-winner from the four-point line with just 2.5 ticks left, helping Converge complete a stunning comeback over the Dyip who were dealt yet another heartbreaking loss.
With that, the FiberXers climbed to fourth in Group A with their 4-4 record, keeping their playoff dream going while eliminating Terrafirma which, despite the fight it put up in its last two games, still lingered in the cellar with its 0-8 card.
For interim head coach Franco Atienza, it was a battle his squad needed to win the hard way.
"It’s a grind-out game. We were there. We gave ourselves a chance to win the game and we were happy,’ Atienza said in the post-game press conference.
[WATCH: Converge leans on clutch Scotty Hopson anew to snatch victory from Terrafirma | PBA Highlights]
Everything went wrong for Converge early as it found itself down a 14-point hole and playing catch-up for the majority of the game.
A 16-for-30 free-throw shooting also did not help the FiberXers.
“It’s a virtual playoff for us. We just can’t seem to get anything going. Everytime we get a run, they [Terrafirma] seem to have an answer,” Atienza bared.
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But not until Schonny Winston found his groove in the fourth, where he dropped 13 of his 19 points, before Hopson delivered the finishing blow.
“It was definitely a grind-out game. We just try to come together as a team even though we're down in the beginning of the game," said Winston.
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Winston, who earned Player of the Game honors, chose to give credit to his teammates who stepped up in the crucial moments.
“Just trying to stay positive and try to contribute in any ways to get people going," he said.
“Bryan [Andrade] hit some threes, Alec [Stockton] hit some big shots and Scottie [Hopson] hits a four-pointer… I think it was a great team win.”
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However, a tougher task awaits Converge with contenders Meralco (6-2) and Magnolia (4-3) up next.