THERE is a lot of optimism at Converge especially after passing its first test in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup by beating Terrafirma by 29 points on Wednesday.
Converge team captain Mike Nieto is one of the players who saw how management was able to turn the FiberXers into a competitive team for the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
Nieto was acquired by the FiberXers in a trade with Rain or Shine entering the 2024 Philippine Cup - one of the first transactions it pulled off in an ambitious bid to build the team from the ground up.
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The former Ateneo player said he is excited about the team’s chances of making a deeper run this time after Converge continued to be active in acquiring players that would help the team.
“One of the main reasons why Coach Franco (Atienza), Boss Jacob (Lao) got me here with Converge is to try and help them establish a culture here in Converge because of ‘yung nagawa ko before,” said Nieto, a multiple UAAP champion with both the Ateneo juniors and seniors programs.
"They are trying to get as much para matulungan ko ‘yung management and coaching staff," he added.
Nieto said Converge’s performance in the PBA Governors’ Cup where it dragged fancied San Miguel all the way to a Game Five in the quarterfinal series is a building block for the FiberXers heading to the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Coming off two losing conferences, two conferences ago, and then a step further last conference by achieving ‘yung muntik pa namin matalo ang San Miguel, it’s a stepping stone for us,” said Nieto.
Converge got off to a strong start on Wednesday when the FiberXers beat Terrafirma, 102-87. Nieto said the impressive debut can be attributed to the players’ desire to repay what management has done in order to build a title-contending squad.
“Deep inside, I think kaya rin kami ganito ‘yung pinakita namin this game is because, yes, we got Jordan (Heading), we got Paolo (Javillonar), but personally and individually, may kanya-kanya na kaming trabaho dito.
"And we just help each other because we want to perform at our best all the time. Of course, trabaho na ito, and at some point of your career, pagka-ano, madali ka lang palitan,” said Nieto.
“We are trying to help each other and play with each other. Kasi Boss Jacob, coach Franco, coach Charles (Tiu), and coach Rajko (Toroman) are building this team not just to compete in the playoffs but also to win a championship,” said Nieto.
For Jordan Heading, one of the new guys at Converge, said the team is still a work in progress.
“You can’t just throw together a bunch of guys and within three months, win a championship. If that's the expectation, that's pretty tough to do. We’re all guys that are under contract for a while, so I think we have a long-term mindset about it,” said Heading.
“If it happens quickly, that’s fantastic, but I think we all also understand how tough this league is and how tough it is to get done. There’s a lot of giants that have climbed that mountain top. San Miguel, all those guys. We’d be foolish to think that we're already better than those guys. We’ve got a lot of room for improvement,” said Heading.
Nevertheless, Nieto said they will continue to work hard to fast track their progress.
“That’s what Boss Dennis (Uy) deserves and that’s what sila Boss Jacob deserves, and we are trying to establish that culture here. Kaya sa practices, sobrang intense din. Of course, we want to show our coaching staff that we deserve to play during games,” said Nieto.
“We want to win games, but at the back of our mind, we want to stay here in Converge, we want to win, and we want to represent this company and give Boss Dennis its first championship in the PBA,” the 27-year-old Nieto added.
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