IT'S NorthPort versus Converge in the main offering of the first Sunday bill in PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup eliminations.
One side gets to the win-column and the other stays out of it as the Batang Pier and the FiberXers collide at 6:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum -in a face-off between the two teams defeated on Friday's double-header also at the Big Dome.
For the FiberXers, it's been a lonely ride all season long as they ended up with just a win in the last Commissioner's Cup.
On Friday versus the Terrafirma Dyip, the FiberXers stayed on a slump, suffering a first-ever loss at the hands of the Columbian Auto Corp. franchise.
On the same card, the Batang Pier dropped their conference debut versus the NLEX Road Warriors, going down in the extra period, 107-100.
Sponsored content: With their sixth-place finish in the Commissioner's Cup, coach Boni Tan and his troops are the odds-on picks versus coach Aldin Ayo and his chargers.
At least in their initial outing in the Philippine Cup, the Batang Pier look to be in better groove than the FiberXers.
Arvin Tolentino exploded for 29 points, with Allyn Bulanadi, William Navarro and the debuting rookie Zavi Lucero putting in significant help as NorthPort dragged NLEX to an overtime battle.
With firepower from Tolentino, Bulanadi, Navarro and Lucero, the FiberXers showed they can compete just as they have proven early in Season 48 first conference.
The loss to NLEX only came as the Batang Pier threw bricks in a key stretch at endgame.
Sponsored content: On the other hand, the FiberXers struggled all the way against the Dyip.
The bright spots in that loss was four guys scoring in double figures.
Alec Stockton and Justin Arana showed the way with 18 apiece for Converge. (SB)
