Commissioner Willie Marcial (photo above, left) welcomes new team owners Dennis Anthony Uy (middle) and Grace Uy. —DENISON REY A. DALUPANG
The looming PBA Governors’ Cup title kickoff seemed like a perfect backdrop for Converge to officially unveil the backbone of its team.
Defending champion Barangay Ginebra and Meralco kick off on Wednesday what has become an almost annual tussle for both squads as they hope to end the season as champions—something that Converge, which will be nicknamed FiberXers in the coming season, hopes to be in about two years. Or 10.
“If you study the history of franchises that came in acquiring existing [PBA] franchises … it could take 10 years [to compete for a title]. It could also take two years,” Converge governor and team manager Chito Salud told reporters on Tuesday when asked about Converge’s timeline.
“What I’m trying to say here is that we will not stop until we get there,” he added.
Talking to the Inquirer, the former PBA commissioner revealed that the FiberXers will attempt to retrace the path of one of the last successful newcomers to hit the league.
Converge will follow “the Red Bull paradigm,” Salud said.
Red Bull joined the league as an expansion club in 2000 and won the 2001 Commissioner’s Cup under coach Yeng Guiao. For the rest of the new franchises that have arrived, it has been a struggle. The last time the league welcomed new teams was back in 2014, and none among those clubs—Blackwater, Terrafirma and NLEX—has contended for a title.
Blackwater and Terrafirma, in fact, have yet to make a semifinal appearance.
So as the Gin Kings and the Bolts battle in Game 1 on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Converge will try to navigate its first seasons craftily to avoid the pitfalls that have bogged down newcomers.
It has built on remnants of the disbanded Alaska franchise, placing them as cornerstones.
“As I’ve said, it will be about constant recalibration,” he said. “[Alaska] performed decently the last conference and we expect that at the very least. Add a few more pieces with our draft picks and some trade, then who knows?”
Jeffrey Cariaso will coach Converge, taking with him Alaska franchise hope Jeron Teng, Gilas draftee Allyn Bulanadi, rookie Ben Adamos, Jaycee Marcelino, and big men Rey Publico and Bryan Faundo. However, Teng, Adamos and Filipino-American guard Taylor Browne have live contracts.
“We’ve had two meetings, so we now have a plan on how we want to form our team. We’re excited about our draft picks,” said Cariaso. “We want to be better, we want be competitive, so we’re looking forward to the new crop of players and even coaches for this new team.” INQ