Converge bench, which includes assistant Danny Ildefonso, looks on during the game between the FiberXers and NorthPort Batang Pier. –PBA IMAGES
Converge got back at NorthPort, 107-99, Wednesday in the PBA Governors’ Cup but not after a heated incident involving FiberXers’ assistant Danny Ildefonso and Batang Pier team governor Erick Arejola.
The two teams were doing the customary postgame handshake near the scorer’s table when Ildefonso and Arejola twice exchanged choice words, triggering a commotion that prompted cooler heads to intervene.
Both Arejola and Ildefonso refrained from making comments after the game, but there’s been beef between NorthPort management and the Converge assistant over stalled contract negotiations involving the latter’s son Dave.
READ: PBA: Danny Ildefonso ‘farm team’ remark lights fire under NorthPort
Dave was selected fifth by NorthPort in the Rookie Draft last July, but the two sides couldn’t come to terms on a contract.
Things simmered prior to the first meeting between the two teams this conference when the elder Ildefonso was fined P20,000 after calling NorthPort a “farm team” in response to a netizen taking shots at his son.
WATCH: Here's the video of the heated exchange between Converge assistant coach Danny Ildefonso and NorthPort team governor Erick Arejola during the customary postgame handshake of their respective teams. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/wNgtuAanVz
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) September 11, 2024
Eyewitnesses from the two sides didn’t clarify if the exchange was in relation to the impasse.
READ: PBA: Dave Ildefonso yet to sign contract with NorthPort
The incident somewhat overshadowed Converge’s victory that came despite squandering a double-digit lead and allowing NorthPort to go ahead 92-84 in the fourth led by import Venky Jois.
Converge forged a tie with NorthPort for fourth in Group A at 3-4, restoring its chances of gaining one of four quarterfinal spots in the group.
Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston scored back-to-back baskets to put the FiberXers ahead 103-99 with under a minute left as NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino, who had 51 points in the last meeting of both teams when the Batang Pier rolled to a 135-109 rout, turned the ball over twice.
Stockton and Winston had 21 and 17 points, respectively, for Converge despite import Scotty Hopson being limited to 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting. Jois had 24 points including 12 out of 27 attempts from the free throw line while Tolentino added 21 points for NorthPort.