CONVERGE coach Aldin Ayo shot down speculations that the team is ‘tanking’ in order to get a shot at Justine Baltazar in the next PBA draft.
Ayo defended the team and its players amid speculation on social media that the FiberXers are losing games to get the No. 1 pick in the next draft for a chance to get Baltazar, arguably the best player based locally that is not yet in the PBA.
BALTAZAR PLAYING FOR PAMPANGA
Baltazar is currently playing for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL. The team is coached by Pampanga governor Dennis Pineda, who has strong ties with Converge after he was previously considered to become the FiberXers’ team governor in the PBA.
“I think that’s unfair. That's unfair because malupit ‘yung pinagdadaanan namin,” said Ayo, citing the tough losses the FiberExers had in the Commissioner’s Cup during the postgame press conference on Wednesday.
“Talk ‘N Text, overtime. Phoenix, game winner. Ginebra, may nangyari doon na nag-cramps, pinipiga namin,” said Ayo.
Converge finally got the breakthrough win when it defeated Terrafirma in overtime, 103-94, on Wednesday, ending a lackluster start that saw the FiberXers lose their first six games of the season.
Ayo said the players' determination to win can be seen from the effort they put in every single day in practice.
“Grabe kami mag-practice. That’s why these guys deserve to play well. I’ve been telling them that we deserve to win. Grabe kami magtrabaho,” said Ayo.
AYO SEES TOUGHER MATCHES
On speculations that they want Baltazar, Ayo said: “We are not looking for that.”
Ayo said that while he is happy with the win, it will still be a hard mountain to climb for the team in their bid to reach the playoffs.
“It was tough. Everybody was disappointed and getting frustrated with the result of our past games. But we just continue preparing and continue practicing hard,” said Ayo.
“Hindi pa ako nabubunutan ng tinik. It’s still 1-6. In a way, disappointed pa rin kami, frustrated pa rin kami, masama pa rin ang pakiramdam namin," he added. "But we're not going to stop. We are going to continue to improve and continue building this team."
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