Cheick Diallo (right): 37 points, 18 rebounds. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Converge got going in the second period and played full throttle the rest of the way on Tuesday night to stifle NLEX, 102-91, for a victory that should prove crucial in more ways than one for the FiberXers in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
“This is a testament to how we want things done as a team,” said interim coach Franco Atienza shortly after the triumph at Ninoy Aquino Stadium that had the telco club rising above .500 with three wins and two losses.
“Whenever you’re coming off a loss, it [leaves] a bitter taste in your mouth. So we just wanted to get back to what we were doing right and review what we could improve on.”
Aside from being able to rebound from a stinging loss five nights ago, the FiberXers managed to turn in an efficient outing, accounting for 28 assists to go with only 11 errors—a ratio that had its coach giddying up in the postgame chat.
Mammoth bounce-back
At the forefront of that commendable effort was import Cheick Diallo, who actually struggled in his last two games. The Malian big man delivered 37 points and 18 rebounds while also playing splendidly on defense with two steals and a pair of blocks.
Alec Stockton was just as key, tossing in 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Jordan Heading and King Caralipio added at least 10 points each in the win that also gave the enemy a second straight loss in a 3-3 card.
NLEX got the goods from import Mike Watkins, who put up 36 points and 23 rebounds. Robert Bolick Jr. was just as big with 26 to top-score for the locals. But against a Converge side that was connecting shots from inside and out and sharing the basketball well, the Road Warriors—one of the early leaders of the midseason showcase—ran out of gas.
Converge will have a chance to extend its winning ways against listless Phoenix, but it will be at the expense of rest as the two teams go at it this Thursday.
The FiberXers will then play again on Saturday and one last time this year on Christmas Day. That means Atienza and his crew of youngsters, who wowed the league with their deep run last conference, will have to figure in three matches in a span of seven days.
But they seem to be looking forward to the challenge.
“Every team goes [through] this,” Atienza said of the densely packed schedule. “We’ll savor the competition.” INQ