Juami Time: Tiongson’s Fourth-Quarter Explosion Lifts San Miguel Past Converge

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by Lou Reyes

SMB guard Juami Tiongson drives through two Converge defenders.
SMB guard Juami Tiongson drives through two Converge defenders. Photo: PBA Images.

When the game was on the line, Juami Tiongson made sure the San Miguel Beermen didn’t blink. 

The veteran guard erupted for all 14 of his points in the final quarter, powering the defending champions to a 96-90 victory over the gritty Converge FiberXers in the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

It wasn’t just another win; it was a statement. San Miguel has now ripped off three straight victories, shaking off a shaky 0-2 start and reminding the rest of the league why they’re still the team to beat.

Tiongson caught fire when it mattered most, drilling jumper after jumper as the Beermen wrestled control away from a young Converge squad that had led for much of the first half. The former Terrafirma star’s late-game heroics turned what was a tight battle into another confident finish for coach Jorge Gallent’s crew.

San Miguel superstar June Mar Fajardo (15).
San Miguel superstar June Mar Fajardo (15). Photo: PBA Images.

But it wasn’t a one-man show. June Mar Fajardo continued to dominate inside, posting 24 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, the kind of stat line that has become routine for the seven-time MVP. CJ Perez added 13 points, seven boards, five assists, and three steals, while big men Mo Tautuaa, Rodney Brondial, JM Calma, and rookie Chris Miller all delivered crucial minutes that kept the Beermen’s engine running smoothly.

On the other end, Converge’s rising star Juan Gomez de Liaño struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with just eight points on 2-of-10 shooting, though he still managed six assists. Schonny Winston led the FiberXers with 20 points, plus seven rebounds and four assists in another energetic outing.

Converge came out firing early and even dictated the tempo in the opening half, leading by as much as nine before San Miguel trimmed the deficit to 49-47 at halftime. From there, experience and composure took over — and when Tiongson caught fire, the defending champs never looked back.

With the win, San Miguel now sits at 3-2, tied with Converge in the middle of the pack but clearly trending upward. If this version of the Beermen, healthy, balanced, and hungry, keeps showing up, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the league feels the full force of their championship form once again.

The Scores:

San Miguel 96 - Fajardo 24, Tiongson 14, Perez 13, Tautuaa 9, Teng 7, Brondial 6, Cruz 6, Rosales 6, Calma 5, Lassiter 4, Miller 2, Ross 0.

Converge 90 - Winston 20, Arana 19, Baltazar 14, Concepcion 9, Gomez de Liano 8, Muyang 6, Stockton 6, Garcia 4, Javillonar 4, Santos 0, Racal 0, Clemente 0, Eguilos 0, Delos Santos 0.

Quarterscores: 20-28, 47-49, 69-66, 96-90