Converge hits the gas pedal early, leaves powerhouse TNT winded after rout
Jeron Teng and the FiberXers ran rings across the protection of Kelley Williams and the Tropang Giga. —PBA IMAGES
Converge coach Aldin Ayo has now steered his squad to a few straight victories—every in opposition to coaches with wealthy championship pedigree.
However on Friday, the younger mentor credited the group’s newest triumph within the Philippine Basketball Affiliation (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup to the best way his gamers have grown accustomed to the model of play he needs to run.
“The gamers are slowly absorbing what we’re doing,” Ayo mentioned after the FiberXers as soon as once more quickened the tempo that resulted in a surprising 130-117 end result in opposition to the TNT Tropang Giga at Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
Future Converge opponents could now have to review that fashion and tempo intently, particularly after the FiberXers breached the century mark with numerous time to spare within the third quarter and flirted with tying the league mark for many threes in a single recreation.
Converge completed with 21 triples Friday night time, three shy of the document, with import Quincy Miller draining on the best way to 38 factors.
‘Sustain the tempo’
Jeron Teng (conference-high 22 factors), Aljun Melecio (20 factors), Justine Arana (14 factors), Mike DiGregorio (13 factors) and RK Ilagan (eight assists) additionally carried out effectively through the contest that noticed Converge lead by a excessive of 35.
“All people is aware of that we’re gonna must sustain the tempo and that’s what the gamers are beginning to get higher at,” Ayo mentioned.
The FiberXers have now reached the midway level of the elimination spherical on a 4-2 (win-loss) slate. A kind of two losses got here in opposition to visitor group Bay Space, which Converge pushed to the restrict earlier than yielding, 106-100.
29 championships
After that loss to the Dragons, Converge has strung up three straight wins in opposition to groups dealt with by coaches who’ve a mixed 29 championships. In his first convention within the PBA, Ayo has overwhelmed in succession Meralco’s Norman Black, San Miguel Beer’s Leo Austria and TNT’s Chot Reyes.
“He’s one of many coaches that I look as much as,” Ayo mentioned of Reyes, additionally the Gilas Pilipinas coach. “He’s in all probability one of many the explanation why I really like teaching. He’s an inspiration.”
TNT’s protection couldn’t corral Converge’s speedy offense and the Tropang Giga have been left with a lot to ponder as they dropped to 3-3 on the halfway mark of the match.
“Clearly, we acquired our ass kicked,” rued Reyes, who allowed Converge to attain 43 within the first quarter, 73 on the half and 113 by the top of the third which have been all new marks for the rookie franchise.
“Our offense wasn’t unhealthy. We scored 117 factors, we had solely 10 turnovers [and] shot 50 p.c whole. It’s not unhealthy in any respect,” Reyes identified. “However our protection actually left so much to be desired.”
TNT, with import Cameron Oliver scoring 41 and Mikey Williams including 27, did cut back the large margin right down to 9, solely when victory was just about within the bag for Converge.
That was in all probability the main level Ayo and the FiberXers are nonetheless attempting to determine.
“I do know that we get drained on offense as a result of we carry on operating,” he mentioned. “That’s one factor now we have to deal with as a result of if we can’t sustain with our protection, we can have issues on our offense.”
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