Tulabut: Bowing Out, Boosting In

Heads Up High

That is what exactly Converge FiberXers are just doing doing as they conclude another stellar finish in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The team owned by billionaire and Entrepreneur of The Year awardee Dennis Anthony Uy (DAU) has finished 4th in the elimination round, four notches higher than their Philippine Cup ending.

At the quarterfinals, they suffered a 2-0 defeat against the mighty San Miguel Beermen who now has Junemar Fajardo and Terrence Romeo back in the fold.

They fought hard against a team that has been there since the league’s inception in 1975. It was a basketball dynasty they ran into.

One must remember that SMB waited for four years before it won its first of 28 championships. As to Converge? It was a gallant stance by the FiberXers who were just put together in less than a year. And yet, they are now a team to watch.

+++++

The season-ending Governors’ Cup promises to be another banner conference for a team that has been gaining steady fanbase following as Converge covers more areas in LuzViMin areas. It has deployed 6.7 million fiber ports, serving 1.87 million customers.

While negotiations for a top caliber import are still on-going, what makes it exciting for basketball fans is the addition of Pampanga Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda as its manager. To aid Delta will be Franzl Jacob Lao as assistant manager.

You see Delta is more than just a basketball aficionado. He is a “godfather” to many PBA superstars like Arwind Santos, Calvin Abueva, and Ian Sanggalang. Also in his fold are Encho Serrano and Larry Muyang.

Delta is like a gemologist who can spot a precious stone from the sand and turn it into a priceless jewel. Something who will be up for grabs by many teams. But with Converge successfully taking him in, he will now guard his lot.

On the other hand, DAU (or known in Angeles as J3) has the Midas touch. He can turn almost everything into gold. Together with brothers Jack and Allan, they started Converge from a betamx/VHS rental shop in the 1980s. Now look they have made an empire out of that small business. From a corner of their Uncle Johnny’s Superkarket, Converge has covered the entire country with pure end-to-end fiber for internet connection. Adding the wits of co-founder and Dennis’ wife Grace makes Converge an excellent internet provider not just in the Philippines but in the Asia-Pacific region.

DAU is equally dead serious in boosting the team. Otherwise, he would not be seen choppering in to Pampanga few days ago with Team Governor Rudy Salud and coach Aldin Ayo. The agenda? Make the team more formidable.

Delta is key to getting big man Justin Baltazar who is now playing in Japan. This former La Salle center, also developed by Mabalacat Mayor Cris Garbo since he was in his teens, may eventually suit up for the FiberXers to complement Justin Arana and Abu Tratter.

+++++

Despite bowing out of the Commissioner’s Cup, the Converge FiberXers have proven its potential to be a title contender in the PBA, sending message that this relatively new squad can give other teams a run for their moneys.

Losing on a high note to San Miguel Beermen (SMB) 120-107 in their second game of best-of-three series, the FiberXers sent chills even to powerhouse teams where it elevated from 8th place finish in Philippine Cup to 4th in the mid-season conference. An impressive finish for a team that was just organized in May this year. Undoubtedly a Cinderella finish.

DAU could be more than satisfied with the performance of the his FiberXers that is made up of veteran holdovers of Alaska Aces franchise and young gunners that proved their true grit against seasoned players.

“We may be out of the running for the Commissioner’s Cup but we have proven that we have the chops to play against the best of the league,” Uy said in his social media post.

Bench Upgrade

FiberXers routed even powerhouse teams in the eliminations, entering the quarterfinals at 4th place. They dissed losses to tough ballclubs – Meralco (106-99), SMB (106-102) and industry rival TnT Tropang Giga in a very convincing fashion 130-117. At one point, they shared 3rd spot standing with Ginebra at 4-2.

This could be credited to the so-called “bench upgrade” initiated by Team Governor Chito Salud that made the team formidable. Starting with hiring of UAAP Champion coach Aldin Ayo, the team went on a conference record of seven consecutive wins with an almost impeccable shooting by Jeron Teng and other small men Aljun Melecio, RK Ilagan and Alec Stockton.

Import Quincy Miller brought with him his NBA experience as he also evolved from being a shooter to a versatile to an all round player. Rookie center Justin Arana was no pushover inside the lane while other bigs Abu Tratter and Jeo Ambohot proved their mettle too. Veterans Kevin Racal, Mike DiGregorio, Maverick Ahanmisi are also pesky players.

While their names may not be as familiar, their hearts were as big as the superstar mainstays in other teams.

More Than Knocking

Salud said they ran into a “dynasty” whose basketball supremacy can be traced to the league’s inception in 1975. Converge joined the league nine months ago when it bought the Alaska Aces franchise.

“Before SMC became the dynasty that it is today, it took them four years since they joined the league in 1975 to win their first of 28 championships. It was not given to them in a silver platter. Pinaghihirapan yan,” Salud said in a text message.

“Kumakatok na kami. Pero ang pintuan sa championship ay hindi nagbubukas sa pakatok katok lang. Kailangan ng susi ng pawis, preparation, tapang at pursigi. Madami pang kakainin pero ang good news, lalo lang nagutom ang mga bata,” added Salud

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph