JERICHO Cruz, Dave Ildefonso and Mikey Williams are just some of the players being floated to be supposedly interested in playing for the Converge FiberXers in the future.
But is there a spot for them in the team? Are the FiberXers even looking at sacrificing current players just to get them?
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We asked the team’s assistant team manager Dennis 'Delta' Pineda.
His answer? A big no.
Pineda told SPIN.ph that Converge is done trading, at least for the moment, and totally focused on improving on their franchise-best quarterfinals finish during the season-opening Governors’ Cup.
“Maayos ang takbo ng team, so sa ngayon, hindi namin iniisip ang magpalit ng tao o pumasok sa trade,” said the governor of the province of Pampanga.
“Sabi nga nila, why fix when it is not broken. So yun ang mindset namin ngayon sa Converge. Lahat ng players ibinibigay ang lahat sa bawat laro. So susuklian namin sila ng loyalty. Lahat ng nakasama namin sa simula, makakasama namin hanggang sa dulo,” he said.
Pineda bared that right now, what Converge needs is to get better and show maturity in time for the coming PBA playoffs, where, as the third seed, the FiberXers are set to face off with No. 6 Rain or Shine in a quarterfinal series.
“Experience na lang at kaunting jelling ang kailangan ng team then I believe kaya na naming sumabay sa mga mas malalaking teams,” said Pineda.
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But when asked if he will be interested in any of the players mentioned, the soft-spoken back-to-back MPBL champion coach was elusive.
“Hindi pa muna naming iniisip yan kasi mas nakatuon kami sa present at ito 'yung conference ngayon. Masaya kami kasi pumapalag ang team at ang dami naming come-from-behind wins na nagpapakita sa nag-i-improve na character ng team,” he said.
With how they pamper their players with high salaries and bonuses, no doubt, Converge is one of the top priority destinations for players with expiring contracts.
And since most of the aforementioned players have played for Converge’s affiliate team Strong Group Athletics, like Ildefonso and Williams, it is no longer a surprise that they've come to appreciate the treatment they receive from its management.
“Happy kami kasi dumadami ang players na gustong maglaro sa amin. Pero sa ngayon, happy kami kasi maganda ang ipinapakita ng aming mga players ngayon. Hanggang 15 lang ang players na pwede naming hawakan, so priority muna namin itong mga kasama namin,” said Pineda.
“Sana maganda ang maging campaign namin at sana mas mag-improve pa ang laro ng buong team,” he added.
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