Loss to Beermen spurs FiberXers to win over Bossing
ANTIPOLO—Converge coach Dennis Pineda is hoping that the loss to San Miguel Beer would serve his team some good.
“We accept that loss we had to San Miguel,” Pineda said. “That’s a champion team and we’re a young team that still lacks experience and facing those kinds of teams will help in our learning curve.”
They might have learned something after getting back on track in the PBA Philippine Cup with a 99-94 win over cellar-dwelling Blackwater to go up 4-2 in the standings while bouncing back from their defeat at the hands of the seasoned Beermen the previous weekend.
Pineda was glad that Converge was able to get its offense in proper motion this time, with Alec Stockton leading the charge with 28 points, while also getting help from Blackwater’s comedy of errors down the stretch.
Christian David turned the ball over twice in the final seconds as Blackwater was trying to knock on the door while trailing 96-94 and 98-94. The Bossing fell to 1-5, sharing the bottom of the standings alongside the Phoenix Fuel Masters and Terrafirma Dyip.
After that close shave, Converge will have another tough team to face in Barangay Ginebra on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. And like the Beermen, the Gin Kings will be another test in the FiberXers’ ambition to compete against perennial giants.
“We have no choice but to face this massive challenge. We just have to prepare well, especially on our schemes on both ends,” said Pineda.
Rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño produced 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals while Archie Concepcion’s two threes in the third helped the FiberXers take a 74-62 lead, before the Bossing charged back.
Sedrick Barefield’s 33 points couldn’t lift the Bossing to an upset victory.
Meanwhile, the PBA postponed Sunday’s doubleheader at Ynares Center II in Rodriguez due to the threat of Super Typhoon Uwan.
The league announced its decision on Saturday, citing the importance of everyone’s safety. TNT and Magnolia were supposed to meet in the first game, followed by Ginebra against Titan Ultra.
Uwan is expected to pack up strong winds and heavy rainfall with its expected path toward the central part of Luzon between Sunday evening and early Monday.
Sources said teams involved were made aware of a possible postponement as early as Friday, given the seriousness of the impending storm and the venue being a one or two-hour drive from the metropolis.
