The Converge FiberXers. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – The Converge FiberXers believe they are coming in as underdogs in the PBA Season 50, despite several coaches eyeing the them as contenders.
During the two-day PBA Media Day, coaches often tagged Converge as one of the teams that could shake up the Philippine Cup.
But for Juan Gomez de Liaño, he sees the team as "underdogs" who are hungry to win.
"Underdogs kami. Hopefully we make it to the playoffs and then we take it step by step. Our goal is to make the finals and hopefully we win the championship. So yeah, exciting times ahead for our team," he told reporters.
Big man Justine Baltazar said their goal this new season is to finally move past the quarterfinals.
"Doble effort kami talaga dito kasi puro quarterfinals lang talaga inaabot namin eh. So yung goal namin makaabot ng semis, makaabot ng finals, kailangan pa rin namin pagtrabahuin yun," he said.
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Converge new head coach and Pampanga Vice Governor Delta Pineda downplayed the coaches remarks about their team being a possible contender.
"Hindi po siguro, hindi kami dapat bantayan mas maraming magaling na team. Nandun po kami sa bottom. One good thing andun kami sa baba, nacha-challenge yung mga bata. May ina-aim kami hopefully ma-score-an namin, matalo namin," he said.
Pineda said their goal is to improve on their quarterfinals finishes in previous seasons.
"Sana umangat naman po performance namin. Isa po yan sa challenge namin. Kaya kinakausap ko yung mga bata, we need to work as a team talaga para sa next conference or next season," he said.
Converge is coming off several wins in its tune-up games, including a dominant victory against the NLEX Road Warriors.
"Hopefully tuloy-tuloy na ito coming towards the season. I'm just thankful sa trust na binibigay ng coaching staff and the team. Hopefully tuloy-tuloy na we win games and we could win a championship for Converge," Gomez de Liaño said.
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Gomez de Liaño had solid outing in their tune-up games, impressing their new head coach.
"Malaking blessing sa team si Juan. Yung experience niya sa international nase-share niya sa mga locals natin ngayon. Good. Parang matagal na siya sa team. Sa first day niya agad nagkakaintindihan sila ng players," Pineda said.
Baltazar also spoke highly of Gomez de Liaño, who was his former teammate in Gilas Pilipinas.
"Marami na rin experience siya [Juan]. So malaking tulong ito sa amin. Sa mga past tune-up namin maganda pinapakita ni Juan. Lalo na pag nasa loob, nagsasabay kami, nagkaka-amuyan kami," he said.
Baltazar said Gomez de Liaño's presence outside will help him and fellow big man Justin Arana dominate the paint.
"Mas malaking bagay sa amin ni Justin [Arana] yun. Kasi kung puputok sila sa labas, luluwag kami ni Justine eh. Yun yung gustong gusto namin. Kasi kita niyo naman si Justin, laging may dumo-double sa kanya," he said.
Gomez de Liaño boosts the solid core of Converge which consists of Baltazar, Arana, Jeo Ambohot, and Alec Stockton.
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