The Converge FiberXers are bringing in their third import for the PBA Governors’ Cup in Cameron Clark, and they still have a full round of elimination games to go. That’s not a good sign for a team with supposed championship aspiration, and it’s hard not to read it as a sign the FiberXers are running out of patience with their own plan.
Cameron Clark takes his turn Tuesday against the Terrafirma Dyip at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with tip-off set for 5:15 p.m. Clark isn’t new to the PBA as he’s previously suited up for both the NLEX Road Warriors and San Miguel Beermen, as well as guest team Hong Kong Eastern. That being said, he is new to this particular fire he’s been dropped into, with Converge bringing him in after replacement import Jamaal Franklin failed to move the needle across his last three games. Franklin, worth remembering, was himself only a replacement for original import Jalen Hudson. Two swaps in, and Converge is still searching for whatever it thought it had when the conference began.
The stakes for Tuesday’s game are straightforward enough. Converge, at 3-4, needs a win to climb to an even 4-4 and shore up its grip on the fourth and final quarterfinal spot in Group A. Terrafirma, also 3-4, wants that exact same spot, and arrives with real momentum after upsetting a previously unbeaten NLEX side 114-109 last Friday—a result that also happened to avenge a narrow 105-103 loss to Converge back on July 15.
Terrafirma Isn’t Playing Musical Chairs
Contrast Converge’s import carousel with what’s happening on the other bench. Terrafirma coach Ronald Tubid has had zero complaints about his own import, Justin Strings, who is averaging a robust 30.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while leading the Dyip to a level of respectability they haven’t reached in a long time.
“No question naman kami sa import,” Tubid said, before adding that Strings has been diligent, easy to coach, and constantly asking questions—the kind of import a coach doesn’t have to think twice about.
That stability doesn’t mean Tubid is taking Tuesday lightly. He was candid about the size and talent Converge brings to the floor, from the frontline pairing of Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar to the firepower of Mikey Williams, Juan Gomez de Liaño, and Calvin Abueva. In short, that’s a genuinely loaded roster on paper, panicking import decisions or not.
“Medyo mabigat talaga ang Converge dahil sa material nila, puno ng talent,” Tubid admitted, adding that he’s hoping his team can find the same kind of matchups that worked against NLEX, and that he believes there’s a way to make it happen regardless.
For Tubid, the actual gameplan comes down to discipline rather than any specific counter to Converge’s size. “Same lang naman concept, tulad lang ng approach namin sa lahat ng makakalaban: defense and execution lang, takbo pag may numbers,” he said, stressing that Dyip losses tend to trace back to players straying from the system rather than anything the opponent does particularly well.
Is Cameron Clark the Answer?
As for the FiberXers, they are no doubt hoping that Cameron Clark is the answer to the puzzle. And maybe he could. Across multiple tenures in the PBA, Clark has averaged 27.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Crucially, he has shown the ability to be both a go-to guy and a role player, able to create his own shot when needed or play the finisher’s role if that’s what’s required. He is also a great rebounder for his size and a hardnosed defender.
Clearly, Converge is banking on its newest import to be the one that finally sticks. Whether Cameron Clark can deliver where Franklin and Hudson couldn’t may say a great deal about whether this is a team making a smart adjustment—or one simply running out of options.
