Converge FiberXers played like a team in need of a win on Tuesday, and the result was a dominant 120-103 victory over the Terrafirma Dyip. And, according to coach Delta Pineda, a heart-to-heart talk with his team may have made a difference as the players’ morale had fallen significantly after four straight defeats.
“‘Yung mga sunod-sunod na talo, talagang low morale ‘yung mga bata. Kaya after nung pang-apat na talo, talagang nag-usap-usap kami na one-on-one,” Pineda told reporters after the game at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. “Lahat need to talk, need to contribute for [a] final solution. Kung ano ba ‘yung mga dapat naming baguhin, i-adjust, para saan ba ang nilalaro ng kada isang player—for individual ba ang stat natin or for the team…”
Converge Is More Than a Team… It’s Family
Crucially, Pineda stressed that Converge is more family than team, and that everyone had to sacrifice to make this family better, to turn it into a winner once again.
“We go for the team. We consider our team like our own family, kaya sacrifice muna ‘yung mga iba,” Pineda added. “Para sa team muna, para sa pamilya muna ang lalaruin namin. Kung sino ‘yung mag-click, sino ‘yung tamang matchup, sino ‘yung tamang combination, dun muna po kami pupunta.”
The FiberXers responded, at least against Terrafirma. New import Cameron Clark brought the intensity on both ends, Calvin Abueva came in with the energy, and Justin Arana provided the interior scoring. Even Jaydee Tungcab, plugged in as a surprise starter, chipped in with three triples in Converge’s fiery 38-point first quarter.
Pineda also got contributions from pretty much everyone he fielded, with 10 of the 11 FiberXers who played against Terrafirma scoring at least a basket each.
It was a good response for Converge. But a true test awaits on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, where the FiberXers will take on PBA Governors’ Cup leader NLEX Road Warriors.
