CONVERGE is out to prove its runaway win the last time out was no fluke.
The FiberXers seek their second straight victory when they face the Magnolia Hotshots tonight in Group A play of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 7:30 p.m. after Terrafirma and NorthPort try to redeem themselves from their first game defeats when they clash in the curtain-raiser at 5 o’clock.
Despite a 127-95 shellacking of the Dyip last Wednesday when Converge import Scotty Hopson dazzled with 46 points, FiberXers interim coach Franco Atienza downplayed the big triumph.
“(Hopson’s) scoring is just a bonus for us,” Atienza said. “When we scouted him, we liked his leadership and ability to do it on both ends. He delivered an A performance.”
Aside from Hopson, the likes of Alec Stockton and Justin Arana will be counted upon by Converge.
Magnolia fell 94-99 in the tiff that launched the pro league’s 49th season last Sunday.
Former NBA slam dunk champion Glenn Robinson III, Ian Sangalang, Paul Lee, and Mark Barroca are expected to carry the fight for the Hotshots.
“Talagang we were trying sana na makakuha ng panalo, pero hindi talaga kinaya,” Terrafirma strategist Johnedel Cardel said. “Kita naman import nila, super, 46 (points) kaagad ang ginawa. Kaya ginanahan na rin mga locals nila.
“He (reinforcement Antonio Hester) tried his best pero one day of practice lang siya sa amin and may jetlag na rin siguro kaya ganoon. Nothing against him pero mga isang buwan na sa amin si Edwards before he got injured so malaki talaga pagkakaiba.”
Hester will join hands with Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, and Juami Tiongson.
“We’ll see. Sabi ko nga, ‘We’ll just play our game and i-correct lang iyong mga lapses sa depensa kasi doon kami nadale, sa ball screen defense,” Cardel said.
The Batang Pier, coming off a 95-101 setback at the hands of the TNT Tropang Giga last Tuesday, is set to field former import Venky Jois in lieu of Taylor Johns if and when the former gets the needed clearance from his nation’s basketball federation.
Whether with Johns or Jois, NorthPort will also lean on Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Munzon, and Jio Jalalon.
