CONVERGE just made official what has been an open secret all along.
The FiberXers tapped Donovan Smith as their import starting in their coming PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup game against Phoenix this Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ironically, the 6-foot-10 Smith suited up for the Fuel Masters in last season's edition of the same conference.
Phoenix, though, failed to advance in the playoffs with Smith around, compiling a 3-11 record for 11th place.
Smith averaged 30.2 points and 11.9 rebounds in 12 games with Phoenix.
READ: Pineda admits timeline tight for Converge import change, if ever
Converge relegated original reinforcement Kaylor Kelley to the injury/reserved list which would enable the team to reactivate him in case Smith doesn't fit the system.
Head coach Delta Pineda admitted on Sunday about the plans of the FiberXers to bring in a new import after Kelley had his most unproductive game in a 106-94 loss against Magnolia.
Owing to the two-day break in between its next game against TNT, Converge kept the services of the former G. League All-Defensive Team member, who played decent in the 97-92 upset of the reigning champions.
Kelley even earned the praise of Pineda after the game.
"Kaylor played good naman," said the Converge coach.
But at 3-6 and needing one final push in their last three outings for a possible berth in the playoffs, Pineda and his coaching staff talked it over and decided to bring in a new face.
"Nag-usap kami ng mga coaches since the next game is still on Sunday," said Pineda, who is also concurrent vice governor of Pampanga.
Phoenix, NLEX, and Blackwater are the final three assignments of Converge,
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