The FiberXers will return to work by the end of the month to prepare for the Philippine Cup.
Justin Arana was quick to point to youth as the main factor in the Converge FiberXers’ one-win PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign.
After the departure of veteran stars Maverick Ahanmisi and Jeron Teng, Arana said the FiberXers just struggled to find the man they can count on when the going got tough.
While a e bevy of players, including Arana, stepped up, it just wasn’t enough to close out games like their 112-111 loss to Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Sunday.
But amid the pile of losses in the forgettable conference, there’s more to gain for the FiberXers.
“Grateful kami kasi kahit puro kami talo, at least marami kaming natutunan dito para madala sa next conference,” he said after the match at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Among those is the realization the Arana needs to work on his perimeter shooting, which is likely the natural progression anyway for the PBA's reigning Rookie of the Year.
In a sport that now needs big men to spread the floor, Arana knows he needs to catch up.
“Yung shooting and free throws kasi yun pinaka crucial sakin,” he said when asked what he needs to improve on heading into the mid-season break.
“Kailangan mag-add ng weapon, kailangan pagtrabahuhan shooting. Karamihan sa big men ngayon talagang may shooting na so kailangan ko pagtrabahuhan ‘yun.”
For now, Arana and the rest of the FiberXers will enjoy a quick respite before plunging into practice on the 29th in preparation for the Philippine Cup.
“Magre-ready agad kami for next conference. Short prepartion lang, kailangan mag bond para ma-improve chemistry,” he said.