PBA On Tour: Rashawn McCarthy, Blackwater nip Converge
Blackwater forward Rashawn McCarthy. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Rashawn McCarthy waxed hot in the second half on his way to scoring 30 points as Blackwater defeated Converge, 102-97, on Wednesday in the PBA On Tour at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
McCarthy fired 22 after halftime, including 13 in the fourth quarter to give the Bossing their fifth win through five games in the two-month PBA exhibition series.
Baser Amer added 12 points and five assists while Rey Suerte also scored 12 in the Blackwater triumph that came despite missing veteran center Troy Rosario.
Acting coach Joe Silva said the Bossing opted to rest Rosario as part of new mentor Jeffrey Cariaso’s desire to give each player managed minutes in preparation for the season opener in October.
Blackwater prevailed despite dealing with the dominant showing by Converge center Justine Arana, who tried to rally his team back from a 70-59 deficit in the third but to no avail.
Converge’s Justine Arana. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Arana had 32 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and three blocks but the FiberXers lost for the third straight time after opening the campaign with a win.
Alec Stockton put up 15 points and five assists while Jerrick Balanza added 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting.
Jeron Teng didn’t suit up, leaving a shorthanded Converge side to activate Ayo’s assistant coach McJour Luib.
Luib, who was part of Letran’s 2015 NCAA championship squad coached by Ayo, had three points and three assists with two turnovers in eight minutes.
Keith Zaldivar produced six points and six rebounds for the FiberXers in his debut after being left in the free agent pool by the Magnolia Hotshots.
The scores:
BLACKWATER 102—McCarthy 30, Amer 12 Suerte 12, Sena 9, Taha 9, DiGregorio 8, Ilagan 7, Ular 6, Banal 6, Hill 3, Escoto 0, Ayonayon 0.
CONVERGE 97—Arana 32, Stockton 15, Balanza 14, Racal 9, Ambohot 8, Nieto 7, Saldivar 6, Luib 3, Ebona 3, Mendoza 0.
Quarters: 21-19, 44-47, 74-72, 102-97.
