A PATTERN seems to be emerging with Converge each time it plays in the Kadayawan Invitational basketball tournament which ended recently in Davao City.
Following their fourth-place finish in the tournament, rumors are rife that the FiberXers may soon change their coach. When the team placed fourth last year, Converge fired coach Aldin Ayo and replaced him with Franco Atienza.
It is now believed that Atienza's tenure has ended and taking over is Pampanga Vice-Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda. If he does, this would not come as a surprise because there has always been talk that Pineda, who also runs the Pampanga team in the MPBL, will soon take over the coaching chores.
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“Hindi ba after nung Kadayawan last year, nagpalit din sila ng coach?” a source familiar with the situation pointed out to SPIN.ph.
In Davao, the FiberXers lost to the Phoenix Fuelmasters in the battle for third, 101-81, at the University of Southeastern Philippines.
“Halos same pattern,” added the source.
Sources also said that Pineda plans to introduce several changes when he takes over, including the hiring of a Serbian coach to act as a deputy slash consultant. The rest of the planned changes were not divulged.
It also remains uncertain whether Converge will again compete in next year’s edition of the Kadayawan Invitational where it has finished last twice in the four-team pocket event.- Gerry Ramos
Savi Davison isn't going anywhere
The two-time PVL champion and newly-minted MVP dismissed talks that the 2025 Invitational will be her last stint in the country.
Davison assured SPIN.ph that she’ll be suiting up in the Reinforced Conference this October, the same event where she was sidelined last year due to nagging knee problems.
“I’ll be enjoying this championship first before preparing for the Reinforced Conference in a month,” she said after PLDT’s title-clinching win over Kobe Shinwa University on Sunday.
Speculations on her supposed departure surfaced when she previously told SPIN.ph about her plans to return to school and pursue chiropractic medicine next year. That plan appears to have been shelved for now.
Her med school dream was set aside for good when she turned pro in the Philippines with PLDT.
When asked about a possible Alas Pilipinas stint, Davison said she intends to rest and celebrate her twin title wins with the High Speed Hitters before deciding on her next moves. - John Mark Garcia
UST castout Osang bound for Taft?
Will University of Santo Tomas' loss be La Salle's gain?
Team insiders bared that Peter Osang has already left Espana following the Growling Tigers' decision to choose Collins Akowe over him for the team's foreign student-athlete spot this upcoming UAAP Season 88.
"Wala na, hindi na nagpapakita," said the source who requested anonimity.
Osang, a 6-foot-7 Nigerian forward, held fort for UST in the offseason and played for the squad in the PlayTime Cares Filoil EcoOil 18th Preseason Cup, filling its need down low before Akowe committed to the Tigers.
But with the entry of the former UAAP Juniors MVP in the picture, the uber athletic Osang found himself relegated to Team B anew, just like last year when Mo Tounkara beat him for the spot.
This time, Osang is betting on himself, taking his talents elsewhere with all signs pointing him to go to Taft.
It's still unclear if Osang has indeed settled down at La Salle, but he will definitely be a big boost for the Green Archers come Season 89.
Bright Nwankwo is set to fill that FSA spot for coach Topex Robinson at La Salle this season, with the 6-foot-9 Nigerian big making his comeback after ceding that position to Henry Agunanne last year.
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