IF Converge intends to go deep in its playoff push—or contend for a breakthrough title—one aspect of the FiberXers’ game needs lots of improvement.
Interim coach Franco Atienza admitted his wards still lack the endgame poise that will be crucial in their campaign in the season-ending PBA Philippine Cup.
“They (Phoenix Fuel Masters) threw different defenses against us and iyong grit nila mataas din. So, in terms of that, medyo, to start unlike the last game, ngayon medyo slow start kami,” Atienza said. “Talagang nangapa kami sa umpisa, sa depensa nila and then buti na lang kahit paano, nag-balance out kami towards the rest of the game.
“I feel that the players were caught off guard. Parang medyo jittery, if you could say that. But at the end of the day, it’s a competition,” he added.
Atienza spoke after Converge brought down Phoenix 92-83 for its first win last Sunday night.
Atienza is convinced that learning to finish the game strong will come in handy for the FiberXers after they dropped an 89-91 loss to the Meralco Bolts in their opening match Friday last week despite leading by as much as 20 points.
“Gusto mo iyong nacha-challenge ka, gusto mo iyong to improve din. I’m just glad that our team, our players, were able to adjust,” Atienza said. “Nag-settle down kahit paano and iyon, iyong huli medyo pangit din iyong huli, like in the Meralco game.
“We have to be able to learn how to finish. If there’s more time, baka nagka-problema kami so that’s one thing that we will talk about after this game—how to sustain our momentum hanggang dulo, how to finish stronger.”
The backcourt pair of Alec Stockton and Schonny Winston showed the way for Converge with the former scoring 18 points and pulling down six rebounds while the latter chiming in 14 markers and eight boards.
Bryan Santos and Justin Arana also had 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the FiberXers improved to 1-1.
This season’s No. 1 pick overall, Justine Baltazar, barely missed a double-double with nine markers, 16 caroms, and six assists for Converge.
The Fuel Masters failed to bounce back from a surprise 87-95 defeat to the Terrafirma Dyip last Saturday and dropped to 1-1.
Atienza heaped praises on Arana, Baltazar and the rest of the FiberXers for licking their wounds fast.
“I’m just glad kasi the two Justins here, we were able to assert our might in terms of presence sa loob and rebounding and of course, all the other guys. I think we had four players in double digits. Almost five, iyong isa, nine points,” he said. “It’s a total team effort and masyadong maaga pa but we have to set our mission on the right track.”
Converge’s finishing kick will be under the microscope anew tomorrow when it battles Magnolia at 5 o’clock in one of the pro league’s 50th anniversary offerings at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
