Author: Martin Bolima
Photo Credit: PBA Images
What was supposed to be a sweep is now down to a winner-take-all.
The Converge FiberXers, given up for dead after going down 2-0 to the San Miguel Beermen in their best-of-five quarterfinals series, tied things up on Friday night, October 4, with a 114-100 victory. Now, the Delta Pineda-backed squad has a chance to pull off a stunner against the PBA’s winningest ballclub in their sudden death Game 5 on Sunday, October 6, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
And coach Francis Atienza knows exactly what his FiberXers must do to complete this comeback.
“If we go up to them [Beermen] one to one, we have no chance,” Atienza told reporters in the aftermath of Game 4. “We’re just glad that we were able to defend them as a team and execute as a team. That’s the only formula for us. We cannot go against them head to head. Kelangan team defense, team offense.”
Can Atienza’s Strategy Outlast the Beermen Again?
Converge brought that “formula” to Games 3 and 4—and it is looking to bring more of it in the winner-take-all Game 5 to determine who will move on to the semis to face Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, who is already through to the next round after sweeping the Meralco Bolts in their own quarterfinals duel.
But Atienza knows beating the Beermen again—three straight in total—will be a tall order, as he expects a sharper, more focused San Miguel on Sunday. Then again, the soft-spoken Converge tactician also knows Game 5 is a toss-up.
“It’s just one game,” he added. “We just have to play with the same energy, the same toughness, the same togetherness.”
That formula has worked wonders for Converge.
It might just work again on Sunday—as long as the FiberXers give themselves a chance, the coach said.
