WHILE it fell short of what could have been a breakthrough semifinal stint in the last conference, Converge is out to show up with renewed zest and confidence.
“We’re excited to start another conference kasi we fell short in the last one and it left a bad taste so gusto mong bumawi kaagad,” FiberXers interim coach Franco Atienza said. “We hope to do better kasi mukhang maganda naman ang development namin from the last conference.
“We had good practices from the last time we played, and we are excited to show kung ano ang natutunan namin from the last conference and how we connect those dito sa mid-season,” he added.
Whether the FiberXers can pass their initial test with flying colors will be known when they take on the revamped Terrafirma Dyip today in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The match kicking off the mid-season tilt is set at 5 p.m. before Phoenix tests the mettle of foreign guest team Eastern in the nightcap at 7:30.
Converge will parade 6-foot-8 former NBA cager Cheick Diallo as its import who will link up with prized new acquisition Jordan Heading, Justin Arana, Alec Stockton, Schonny Winston, and Justine Baltazar once he winds up his commitment with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL next month.
“Iyong import namin medyo bata din, first time to play here. Hindi siya ganoon kalaki compared to other teams na kumuha ng mga 6-foot-11, 7-footers. But we’re excited about what he can do and what he brings and how the team is gelling together,” Atienza said.
“We’re also looking forward to that (Baltazar’s arrival). But we’ll try to compete with whatever we have, and I think we have enough guys to hold the fort, kumbaga, in the meantime.”
The FiberXers made it to the quarterfinals of the last Governors’ Cup where they pushed the mighty San Miguel Beermen to five grueling tiffs.
Terrafirma parted ways with tactician Johnedel Cardel during the conference break and handed the coaching reins to Raymond Tiongco.
The Dyip dealt Juami Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig to SMB for veterans Terrence Romeo and Vic Manuel who will be sure to keep Atienza and his charges on their toes.
“Iba iyong Terrence saka Vic Manuel,” he said. “They are sure to add experience and poise to Terrafirma.”
Also making their Terrafirma debut are rookies Mark Nonoy and CJ Catapusan, as well as former NorthPort guard Brent Paraiso and Aljun Melecio and Keith Zaldivar, who were acquired from Converge for the rights to Heading.
The Dyip tapped 6-foot-11 British Jamaican Ryan Richards as their reinforcement who will man the middle while Christian Standhardinger continues his recovery from a knee injury that sidelined him in the latter stages of the last cage wars.
The Fuel Masters linked up with import Donovan Smith while the Hong Kong-based squad will field former NLEX and Beermen reinforcement Cameron Clark as import.
Hayden Blankley, Kobey Lam and Glen Yang—who suited up for Bay Area in the same edition of the meet last year, will also boost Eastern.
With a new joust opening shop, expect new great sagas to unfold in Asia’s pioneering pro league.
