PBA: Converge beats Terrafirma in OT for breakthrough win
Converge FiberXers new import Jamil Wilson. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Converge finally found a breakthrough to halt a six-game losing streak in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, carving out a 103-94 overtime victory over Terrafirma at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday.
Jamil Wilson lifted Converge in just his second game in the PBA, who is slowly dipping his toes to coach Aldin Ayo’s system and how his new teammates play.
“Chemistry is the biggest thing in basketball or sports in general … I’ve been here for maybe 2 1/2 days and I didn’t even know half of these guys names,” Wilson said after finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
“Just having a week under my belt for practice … getting to know these guys, what they like to do makes all the world of difference and you can tell tonight how comfortable we were with certain things we did and how much confidence guys played with.”
Converge finally got on the board and improved to 1-6, but Ayo was far from celebrating that first win.
“It was tough, everybody was disappointed, everybody was getting frustrated because of the result of our past games, but we just continue preparing, we just continue practicing hard,” Ayo said as the FiberXers look to turn things around to their favor.
Deschon Winston added 17 points for Converge while Justin Arana finished with 14 points and eight rebounds to keep Terrafirma winless over the FiberXers.
The Dyip, meanwhile, dropped to 2-5 even with their star guard Juami Tiongson finishing with a hefty 28 points and Stephen Holt 14 points and five steals.
Javi Gomez de Liano had 13 points including the game-extending trey in the dying seconds of regulation at 88 all, and added 12 rebounds as well.
Thomas de Thaey contributed a double-double of 12 points and 19 rebounds.
“[We are building and learning] confidence, believing in each other and trusting each other more importantly. I think we put a big step tonight and trusting each other as a unit and believing in each other’s abilities,” said Wilson on what his squad needs to continue doing throughout the conference.
“We got a game this Sunday so we gotta continue to work, like what coach said, in practice and continue to do the things that work for us and exploit those things,” he added as Converge try to double down on its newfound momentum against Meralco at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
