Converge shifts focus to recovery after tough loss to Barangay Ginebra

Like any young team, Converge still has a long way to go before being considered made. Coach Franco Atienza knows this and prefers a step by step approach starting with his FiberXers’ matchup against a struggling NorthPort this Friday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

NorthPort is desperate to snap a four game losing streak and improve to a 2 4 record. They aim to boost their chances of making the top eight to advance to the quarterfinals after the 11 game eliminations.

Converge currently holds a better 4 3 standing but needs to bounce back after a disappointing 66-85 loss to Barangay Ginebra last Saturday. That defeat stopped their three game winning streak and dropped them to sixth place in the standings.

Coach Atienza welcomed the tough loss against Ginebra. He said that games like these are invaluable for a young team because the intense atmosphere and pressure cannot be simulated in practice. Even though they lost, the team hopes to learn and improve from the experience and deliver better results this Friday, May 16.

One key area Converge has worked on is their free throw shooting. Against Ginebra, the team only made 25 out of 80 attempts. They also committed 18 turnovers that stopped their offensive rhythm.

When their offense sputtered, so did their defense. Atienza admitted that if they had managed to put together two or three straight stops, the game could have turned in their favor.

NorthPort faces its own shooting woes, especially from the free throw line. In their 104 105 loss to Meralco last week, they missed 16 free throws including five in the final minute. Despite leading by 52-37 at one point, those misses proved costly.

Adding to the challenge for NorthPort, Arvin Tolentino remains sidelined due to a hip flexor injury for the fourth straight game.

Atienza insists that NorthPort cannot be taken lightly. He said no PBA team is easy to beat and every team is capable of winning. The FiberXers have gone back to the drawing board after last Saturday’s game and hope to translate their adjustments into success this Friday.