The Converge FiberXers snapped a worrying five-game skid on Wednesday with a 103-82 victory over the Titan Ultra Giant Risers. And, after the game, Delta Pineda had to remind everyone why his ultra-talented squad fell in the standings in the first place.
“We’re a new team,” Pineda pointed out. “So, huwag muna tayong mag-expect ng ganoon ka-fluid ‘yung game namin.”
Indeed, this is a new-look Converge with four new players—Mikey Williams, Calvin Abueva, Jonnel Policarpio, and Kurt Reyson. Of these four, Williams, Abueva, and Policarpio are all major pieces to what fans hope is a championship puzzle.
Converge Has Played Like a New Team
With very little time to prepare together, the FiberXers have unsurprisingly looked lost at times. Too often, in fact, players are simply relying on their individual talent, which likely explains why Converge was second-worst in the entire league in assists coming into Wednesday’s game versus Titan Ultra.
But against the Giant Risers, Converge looked like a team on the mend at times as players shared the wealth and defended better as a unit. The 25 assists the FiberXers recorded on only 12 turnovers spoke volumes to this end, especially since Converge coughs the ball up with alarming regularity (17 turnovers a game).
This is a good sign for Pineda, who believes his team is finally jelling—slowly but surely.
“Unti-unti ‘yung chemistry ng mga bata nabi-build na po,” he said.
Good Health, Finally?
Another thing going for Converge, according to Pineda, is the return from injury of Abueva, who missed the start of the conference due to nagging injuries, and super rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño, who also missed a couple of games due to a right knee contusion.
“Iyung situation naman namin po sa mga talo namin may mga instance na kulang po talaga, kulang mga players,” Pineda pointed out. “In the last game with Rain or Shine [Elasto Painters], even if naglaro sila Calvin and Juan, nakita n’yo naman na hindi 100 percent, so expect naman natin iyan, plus, major factor is chemistry.”
Incidentally, both JGDL and Abueva played starring roles in the FiberXers’ win over Titan, with the rookie tallying 15 points and 7 rebounds, and the veteran finishing with 14 points and 5 boards.
Finally fit and healthy, it’s looking like Converge is poised to build something after a trying start to this PBA Commissioner’s Cup. It’s taken a while, but it might finally be coming—unti-unti, as Pineda put it.
