Impressive debut–even with Mikey’s limited minutes–has FiberXers turning heads
Under the weight of heavy expectations, Converge got its PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign off to a winning start on Wednesday with two of the FiberXers’ key acquisitions seeing action with mixed results.
Mikey Williams finally returned to the league after three years in the cooler, though he had to wait for his Fiba clearance to be given the OK before playing all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter of a 102-94 win over guest team Macau Black Knights.
Williams went scoreless, but had two rebounds and three assists in his short spell and the former TNT star getting in the groove is certainly a scary thought for the rest of the field.
“The momentum of our offense became different when Mikey manned the point. He was the one who set everything up,” said coach Delta Pineda.
Solid first game
Jonnel Policarpio put up 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals after being acquired from NLEx, providing the spark in his role as a versatile power forward.
“One good thing about Jonnel is that he’s fearless. He doesn’t get rattled and he’s a big help for the team,” Pineda said.
Converge wasn’t able to parade Calvin Abueva, who is still dealing with a hamstring injury that limited him to just one tune-up game while also being reduced to a cheerleader or entertainer during the recent All-Star Game in Candon, Ilocos Sur.
Pineda sees Abueva missing at least two to three more games before finally getting his FiberXers debut, later joking that age has caught up with “The Beast.”
“The Beast is hibernating,” Alec Stockton said in jest.
Among the excitement surrounding the moves Converge made, Stockton stood out in the opening match, posting 18 points, three rebounds, three assists and six steals after an offseason that saw one of the franchise’s originals was rumored to be on the move following the heartbreaking quarterfinal loss to Barangay Ginebra in the Philippine Cup.
Stockton was also impressive during the All-Star Game, not only with his offensive skills but also for playing defense like it was a serious contest. He did the same against the Black Knights, putting Daniel Chongqui in uncomfortable spots.
Respectable numbers
Import Kylor Kelley dropped 12 points and 19 rebounds for the FiberXers, who have a game coming up this weekend to cap off the first stretch of games in the midseason conference.
Magnolia parades late replacement Nuni Omot as the Hotshots debut against Phoenix on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Omot played for South Sudan in the 2023 Fiba World Cup here and the 2024 Paris Olympics and the Hotshots are banking on his experience after replacing Terrell Brown-Soares.
Brown-Soares played in tune-up matches, but Magnolia opted to go a different direction.
The Fuel Masters will see them play under new coach Charles Tiu, who will be tasked to turn the fortunes of the franchise, which last made the playoffs during the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup, where they reached the semis.
NLEx squares off with Blackwater in the 5 p.m. opener.
