Converge FiberXers’ PBA draft pick Schonny Winston. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Despite not having played officially in a Converge uniform, Schonny Winston has already surprised coach Aldin Ayo for being fit for the team for the upcoming PBA season.
What positively shocked Ayo was the revelation that Winston is also a fit with the FiberXers in terms of defense.
But Ayo stayed realistic and said the La Salle product has some catching up to do with the team’s plays and sets, especially since most of his players have competed under him for almost over a year now.
“Schonny is a fit for us in terms of offense and surprisingly, on defense also. He really is a two-way player, a scorer and at the same time he can defend,” said Ayo in the PBA’s Media Day at One Esplanade on Wednesday.
“With regard to our plays, he has to spend time doing it, preparing for it and reviewing it because the other guys have been with us for almost over a year. He can’t apply it in a month or two because what we’re doing here is deep.”
Winston being active on defense is a surprise, considering he held a contrasting role back in his heyday with La Salle.
Known more as a scorer, Winston paced the Green Archers in his final year with norms of 21.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Despite being a rookie, expectations won’t be absent for Winston and it’s growing even more with the departure of Converge’s second option on offense in Jeron Teng.
Ayo revealed that he wants Winston, Adrian Wong and Mike Nieto to fill the void that Teng and Mav Ahanmisi left behind.
“We lost our two best scorers in Mav and JT but we have guys like Adrian Wong, Mike Nieto and now, Schonny. We really lack firepower. We lack in scoring and we need to really fill that.”
Winston will be put to the test to step up for Converge when the FiberXers play their season opener against Blackwater on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Philsports Arena.