FROM an escape win versus NorthPort, Converge is raring to roll on and push its playoff drive in tangling with the back-to-the-wall Terrafirma squad in the PBA Governors' Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Saturday.
"We want to make the playoffs but something has to be taken care of. No. 1 right now is Terrafirma," said Converge coach Franco Atienza ahead of their 7:30 p.m. dispute with the Dyip.
The FiberXers seek to stay right behind the top three (TNT at 6-1, Meralco at 5-2 and Magnolia at 4-3) in Group A, eyeing win No. 4 against the same number of losses while the Dyip fight for dear life after going winless in seven starts.
Antonio Hester and his Dyip teammates came close to breaking into the win-column the last time but wilted down in a tight endgame duel with the Hotshots and suffered a 98-99 heartbreaker.
At 0-7, coach Johnedel Cardel's crew must sweep their last three games to have a shot at the quarterfinals.
Sponsored content:
And it's Converge on Saturday, TNT Thursday and Meralco on Sept. 21 in their closing run in the double-round elims play.
Then there's their health woes, including an injury keeping Christian Standhardinger on the bench in their last outing.
The FiberXers, at 3-4, are also in a tight spot.
Somehow, they gained some relief the last time in repelling the late-charging Batang Pier, 107-99, and forging a tie between them at fourth place.
"It may be an ugly win but we'll take it, especially right now at this stage of the eliminations more than halfway already. We know we need this, it's a virtual playoff for us," said Atienza.
Sponsored content:
The FiberXers looked ready to fold in the second half after a red-hot start.
With the Batang Pier going full blast in their pressing defense and running game, they drew level at 71 after the third and even wrested a 92-84 upperhand at the 5:38 mark of the fourth.
But Schonny Winston, Bryan Santos and Alec Stockton ignited a searing finish that sealed the deal and got Converge out of a three-game slump.
And they're determined to get going.(SB)
