PBA: Jordan Heading carries Converge past Phoenix

Converge FiberXers Jordan Heading during a game against Phoenix Fuel Masters in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. –PBA IMAGES

Rookie Jordan Heading had all-around numbers as Converge denied Phoenix’s latest upset bid, 116-105, Thursday for its first back-to-back win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Showing why he was a massive pickup after his rights were taken from Terrafirma, Heading finished with 21 points, three rebounds, six assists and five steals to help the FiberXers climb up to a 4-2 win-loss record in the standings.

READ: Jordan Heading finally headed to PBA to play for Converge

Import Cheick Diallo was also key, as were Bryan Santos and No. 1 overall pick Justine Baltazar in the victory that came before Converge goes to Batangas City for a key clash with crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra on Saturday.

Diallo also scored 21 points on top of 16 rebounds even as Baltazar got six points and eight of his 13 rebounds on the offensive glass.

Baltazar played almost 25 minutes as he’s slowly being integrated to the FiberXers rotation after a grueling MPBL stint that saw him lead Pampanga to a second straight crown.

READ: PBA: Converge shatters own expectations, raises bar on goals

Santos scored eight of his 16 points in the third where Converge turned things around after a 54-48 halftime deficit.

Phoenix dropped to 1-5 as it couldn’t build on Tuesday’s shock win over NorthPort that ended the latter’s perfect start in the midseason tournament.

The Fuel Masters, who won’t play until Jan. 7 against the winless Terrafirma Dyip in a battle of bottom-feeding teams, got 30 points and 18 rebounds from import Donovan Smith.