After the Converge FiberXers finished their media day photoshoot on Friday, big man Justine Baltazar caught up with the PBA scribes and bared the FiberXers goal: semis at least, or even the Finals.
“Ang goal namin talaga makaabot ng semis, makaabot ng finals. Kasi puro quarters lang kami,” Baltazar shared during the continuation of the FiberXers’ media day commitments. “Kaya doble effort talaga kami dito (Season 50) dahil puro quarterfinals lang ang inaabot namin.”
Indeed, Converge made it to the quarterfinals in each of last season’s three conferences, only to lose to the San Miguel Beermen, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the Governors’ Cup, Commissioner’s Cup, and Philippine Cup, respectively.
This season, though, could prove different for the FiberXers, who might just see themselves making it to the semis—or even the Finals at one point or another in PBA Season 50. Here are 3 reasons why either or both could happen:
1. Converge Is Stacked
If talent is the barometer, Converge is right up there with the likes of the TNT Tropang 5G and San Miguel Beermen. In fact, the FiberXers’ probable starting five—Baltazar, Justin Arana, Schonny Winston, Alec Stockton, and incoming rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño—might just be one of the three best five-man combos the league will see this season.
Add to the mix guards MJ Garcia and Rey Suerte, steady 3-D wing Kevin Racal, and bruising big man Larry Muyang and Converge easily runs nine-deep—exactly the kind of depth the PBA’s elite have. But the FiberXers aren’t just deep and talented; they’re incredibly balanced, too, with inside operators in Baltazar and Arana; dynamic scorers/playmakers in de Liaño, Winston, and Stockton; and shooters like Suerte and Racal.
2. The FiberXers Are in Year 2
Last season, Converge and the PBA got a glimpse of what Baltazar, Arana, Winston, and Stockton could do, and it was at times spectacular: Arana bulldozing his way in the paint, Winston manufacturing points from everywhere, Stockton going on sizzling scoring sprees, and Baltazar mostly filling in the gaps on both ends.
Now, that core four is set to reload for their second season, and it’s fair to expect that they’ll make a leap—individually and collectively. Baltazar, in particular, is only going to get better as he gets stronger and becomes more comfortable with the speed and physicality of the PBA. Stockton and Winston will be a year wiser and will know better how to leverage having two talented bigs and when to take over. Arana, meanwhile, has gotten better year after year and will likely continue adding wrinkles to his game this Season 50.
3. Converge Brass Seem All-In
From moving heaven and earth to resign Winston, to trading for Muyang and the second overall pick (JGDL), to bringing in foreign consultants Rajko Toroman and Djordje Jovicic, the FiberXers have been arguably the busiest team this offseason. And these aren’t just “token” additions; they’re the kind of offseason moves that build championship teams—adding a PBA-ready three-level scorer in Gomez de Liaño, getting a workhorse to reinforce the frontcourt, and tapping world-class basketball minds (two at that).
In other words, these moves show the Converge higher-ups are going all-in this season, so it’s fair to expect that Baltazar and company will be going all out to take that mythical next step and move past the quarters.
Then again, nothing’s ever guaranteed in hoops. But, if anything, the Converge FiberXers certainly have the tools to accomplish what Baltazar says is their goal for Season 50.
