CHARLES Tiu will consider a Phoenix Super LPG win over Converge on Sunday as no less than an upset, saying he considers the FiberXers a stacked roster.
“They are a great team,” said Tiu. “We have to dig deep to find a way to upset them, I guess. Their record doesn't show how good of a team they are. They'll figure it out.”
READ Phoenix, Converge meet in game with serious playoffs implications
Tiu knows what he is talking about, having been a former lead assistant at the FiberXers camp to Franco Atienza during the PBA 49th season campaign.
Tiu left Converge when it appointed Pampanga vice-governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda as head coach at the start of the 50th season. But Tiu returned to the PBA after accepting a role to become the head coach of Phoenix Super LPG.
Under Tiu, Phoenix is in the hunt for a playoff spot, currently at sixth place with a 5-3 win-loss record, and is coming off a two-game winning streak after an 87-83 victory over previously unbeaten Rain or Shine.
A win over Converge will boost Phoenix's chances of moving on to the playoffs for the first time since the 2023-24 Commissioner's Cup two seasons ago.
But being familiar with Converge, Tiu is bracing for a scrap against a Converge side that is also playing with a sense of urgency. The FiberXers are at 3-6 and at ninth place in the team standings.
“It's going to be a tough match-up. I really think that they are a really great, great team,” Tiu said. “They have a great staff. They are all good friends. It will be fun to go up against them.”
“That's a solid team. The two best big men, (Justin) Arana, Balti (Justin Baltazar), you've got Juan (Gomez de Liano), Mikey (Williams), Alec (Stockton), and then off the bench, Calvin (Abueva), Poli (Jonnel Policarpio), they are a great team,” Tiu said.
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