Converge kicks off Commissioner’s Cup with win over Terrafirma

Converge registered a resounding 116-87 victory over new-look Terrafirma to kick off their Philippine Basketball Association or PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup campaign on Wednesday, November 27, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The FiberXers delivered 14 three-pointers in the game, including nine in the decisive second half that completely took the fight out of the Dyip. 

Converge established the tone by defeating the Dyip 34-16 in the first period. They also showed composure by overcoming Terrafirma's third quarter storm.

Import Cheick Diallo, who played five seasons in the NBA, had an outstanding debut, dominating the paint with a monster double-double of 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting and 16 rebounds with two assists, a steal, and a block.

“When we got Cheick, we know we are getting a high-motor guy, athletic, can jump out of the gym. What we saw now is what we expected him to play like,” Converge head coach Franco Atienza said.

Justin Arana spearheaded the local effort, tallying 16 markers and 12 boards. Bryan Santos followed through with 12 points while Player of the Game Mike Nieto contributed with 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep.

“I think we dictated the pace pretty well and the guys are in sync at least for this first game, not taking anything away from the other team,” Atienza remarked.

Jordan Heading also made his much anticipated PBA debut in the game, scoring eight points, dishing out six assists, and pulling down four rebounds in his 24-minute play for Converge.

“So far, so good. We believe he played really well,” stated Atienza of Heading. “He is slowly understanding what we want to do on both ends of the floor. I think for a first game, he exceeded our expectations.”

Meanwhile, Terrafirma failed to secure a win despite parading a new head coach in Raymund Tiongco and a lot of new faces in Mark Nonoy, Aljun Melecio, and Keith Zaldivar, together with veterans Stanley Pringle, Aldrech Ramos, and Kevin Ferrer.

Rookie CJ Catapusan paced the Dyip with a team-high 13 markers and the debuting Nonoy finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and two steals, while import Ryan Earl Richards was limited only to 10 markers and 10 boards in the losing cause.

Converge 116 – Diallo 25, Arana 16, Santos 12, Nieto 11, Heading 8, Winston 7, Stockton 7, Ambohot 6, Fleming 6, Andrade 5, Racal 5, Fornilos 3, Javillonar 3, Santos 2, Cabagnot 0.

Terrafirma 87– Catapusan 13, Sangalang 11, Pringle 11, Nonoy 11, Richards 10, Carino 8, Hernandez 6, Ramos 5, Melecio 4, Paraiso 3, Ferrer 3, Zaldivar 2, Hanapi 2

Quarter Scores: 34-16, 59-42, 86-67, 116-87.