FROM tears to cheers.
The storied Alaska franchise might have bid the PBA goodbye for good last month, but after it was acquired by the Converge ICT Solutions of billionaire Dennis Anthony Uy, a new chapter is set to unfold, with the team hoping it could match, if not surpass the Aces’ success.
“We ended Alaska with confetti and now we’re starting it also with confetti so you can imagine the excitement and happiness from us,” Converge coach Jeff Cariaso said yesterday in the team’s official launch at the EDSA Shangri-La Manila in Mandaluyong.
“I’m excited to start this journey with them,” he added.
The squad, which retained Cariaso as tactician, was given the moniker FiberXers in the event attended by Uy and his wife Grace, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, representative to the Board Atty. Chito Salud, assistant team manager Dickie Bachman, Cariaso’s former coaching staff that included Monch Gavieres and Franco Atienza, former strength and conditioning coach Gus Vargas, former team executive CK Canapi-Daniolco, and former Alaska players led by the likes Jeron Teng, Allyn Bulanadi, Ben Adamos, Jaycee Marcelino, Rey Publico, and Bryan Faundo.
Cariaso described the transition from dealing with the heartache of the Aces’ exit to a new beginning as “a roller coaster ride.”
“The transition has been, honestly, para siyang roller coaster because we discussed the ending of a dynasty, we tried to end it with a bang but obviously, it didn’t end the way that we wanted it to be,” Cariaso said.
“But then comes a new group who purchased the franchise and who are just as excited, just as passionate and ito iyong importante, they carry the same values that Alaska did during our time.”
Cariaso said Converge is out to field a competitive team in the league’s 47th season set to start in June.
“Just excited for the challenge, excited for this new opportunity. You saw how passionate, excited, and competitive Sir Dennis and his wife are. I think they want to form a competitive team,” Cariaso said.
“That’s no different from how we approach things naman the last few years (with Alaska), so this new opportunity is basically the same.”
Alaska, owner of 14 titles including a rare Grand Slam in 1996 in Asia’s first play-for-pay league, reached the quarterfinals of the Governors Cup and pushed No. 2 NLEX to the limit before bowing out.
While the FiberXers have yet to finalize their line-up, Cariaso is looking forward to the annual draft set next month where they will have the third, fourth, and 15th picks.
