CONVERGE aims to ride the lucky break it had in its last game and kick off the year on a high note when it tackles a TNT crew bidding to stretch its own winning streak Saturday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The match is set at 5 p.m. with the FiberXers gunning for a fifth straight win that would jack their record to 7-2 and the Tropang Giga wanting to cop a fourth straight victory following a 0-2 start to the mid-season conference.
"It's a big test for us," admitted Converge acting head coach Franco Atienza, whose side is embarking on a tough stretch run that includes matches against Rain or Shine on Tuesday, Blackwater on Jan. 19 and San Miguel Beer on Jan. 24.
"Last four games namin medyo malalakas din. If we want to have a good path sa playoffs kailangan i-take care namin mga games na iyon," stated Atienza before adding that their focus for the moment is fixed solely on TNT.
The FiberXers finally did away with their tendency to fall behind, stage a fightback and just squeeze through in the end by fashioning a wire-to-wire 110-94 triumph over Meralco last Christmas. Atienza, however, put little weight on that one.
Sponsored content: "We're happy about that win, pero putting it into context hindi kumpleto Meralco noon," related Atienza. "But we're happy with that. After nu'ng grind sa Magnolia and before that Meralco game against (Barangay) Ginebra. So medyo dictated naman namin 'yung last game."
With TNT's Kelly Williams expected to finally see action for the first time in the tournament, Atienza believes his team would have its hands full. "Kasi kumpleto na rin sila and they're a champion team," he pointed out.
The Tropa have just shown their championship mettle by overcoming a much more complete Bolts side last Tuesday, mainly through Calvin Oftana's 24 points and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's free throws in the last 10 seconds that also gave him 24 markers on top of 13 rebounds and five assists.
"Hollis-Jefferson is a workhorse," noted Atienza. "Kahit saan p'wedeng umiskor. He's fast, he's strong so grabe combination na iyon. Tapos scorer and maganda attitude, may depensa pa so super import talaga."
It is not just Hollis-Jefferson and Oftana who gnaw at Atienza, however. "(Roger) Pogoy, Jayson (Castro). Si Jayson sa umpisa makakalimutan mo pero ipapaalala niya na team pa rin niya iyan sa dulo. Siya pa rin heartbreaker, siya pa rin po-problemahin mo sa dulo," he stressed.
Sponsored content: "Kailangan ma-solve namin iyon, pati supporting cast like (Rey) Nambatac, (Poy) Erram, (Glenn) Khobuntin. Pati coaching staff nila magagaling din," added Atienza.
Converge also has a stocked arsenal, led by Cheick Diallo, Jordan Heading, Alec Stockton, Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar, who is coming off a conference-high 16 points against Meralco.
"So it will be a good test for us," said Atienza. "We look forward to that TNT game, hoping to at least start the year right, kick off our stretch run on a good note and hopefully maka-strong finish at ma-carry over namin iyon into the playoffs." (NC)
