GAMES TODAY
(PhilSports Arena, Pasig)
5 p.m. – Converge vs. Terrafirma
7:30 p.m. – Phoenix vs. Rain or Shine
WITH nearly the same targets, the protagonists trek the busy and traffic-prone venue armed with high hopes of emerging as the big winners of crucial duels, especially for the three teams still in the hunt for Last Eight berths.
Converge tangles with a virtually eliminated Terrafirma crew today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The game is set at 5 p.m., with the FiberXers favored to cruise past the moribund Dyip and notch a sixth victory that will enable them to gain at least a playoff for a quarterfinals slot after the 11-game eliminations of the season-ending meet.
Win No. 5 is also on the sights of Rain or Shine when it plays a Phoenix side fighting for survival in the nightcap at 7:30.
In a move to boost its title bid, Magnolia shipped veteran forward Calvin Abueva to NorthPort in exchange for rising star William Navarro, Jerrick Balanza, and a second-round pick in the pro league’s 51st season Draft.
The trade got the nod of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup yesterday.
Foremost among the game plan of Converge interim coach Franco Atienza is to find other FiberXers who will connect, those not named Justine Baltazar or Justin Arana.
“Napaghahandaan na ang dalawang Justin/Justine kaya kailangan gawan namin ng paraan iyon,” Atienza said. “Parang it’s a case of our strength na nagiging Achilles heel na rin. Kaya we need to find a way on how we can get some sort of advantage other than mostly relying on them kasi may plano na ibang teams.
“Nakita natin against Ginebra, against NLEX, kaya kailangang gumawa kami ng paraan paano kami makakakuha ng ibang advantage,” he added.
Atienza’s worries are not unfounded—his charges are reeling off from an 83-88 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors last Friday that sent them to 5-4—that also explains why they are looking past the 1-7 Terrafirma.
“We are preparing for the best Terrafirma could offer,” Atienza said. “We know naman na medyo mababa sila sa standings, but still they have the materials. So, hindi kami magiging kumpiyansa.”
“Alam namin na hindi magiging madaling game iyon kaya ganoon na lang ang preparation namin, talagang locked in kami, naka-concentrate kami, naka-focus kami.”
Aside from Baltazar and Arana, Converge is expecting more from the likes of Alec Stockton, Schonny Winston, and Kevin Racal.
Terrafirma tasted a seventh loss in a row via an 89-128 rout at the hands of San Miguel Beer last May 18.
Mark Nonoy, Louie Sangalang, and Stanley Pringle will be counted upon by the Dyip.
The Elasto Painters fell to the TNT Tropang Giga (103-111) last Wednesday that dropped them to 4-3 while the Fuel Masters also lost to the Ginebra Kings 112-119 last May 16 for a 2-5 slate.
For sure, the big guns will show up to play as they try to close in on hitting the home run in the first hurdle of the import-less tourney.
