No. 2 pick Juan Gomez de Liaño and new coach Delta Pineda are determined to make a statement in their PBA debut for Converge.
The Converge FiberXers will make their highly-anticipated debut in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup against the Titan Ultra Giant Risers on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Tip off is at 5:15 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
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After a promising performance in Season 49, where Converge made the quarterfinals thrice, the team is now set on breaking into the semifinals.
The FiberXers are seen as the preseason favorites with a dynamic, youthful lineup that includes no. 2 overall pick Juan Gomez de Liaño, who is expected to make an immediate impact in his PBA debut.
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Alongside him, Converge boasts a deadly core of rising stars in Justine Baltazar, Justin Arana, Alec Stockton, and Schonny Winston, all of whom are expected to carry the load for the FiberXers this season.
Converge will be led by Delta Pineda, a two-time MPBL champion with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, who takes the reins as head coach for his PBA debut.
The FiberXers will face a tough test against the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, who are coming off an explosive opening win over Meralco, thanks to Calvin Abueva's 41-point eruption.
Converge will need to match the intensity of the Risers if it wants to kick off its Philippine Cup campaign with a victory and build momentum toward their semifinal aspirations.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]