No imports, no wins
The matchups weren’t as expected as Converge showed up without Quincy Miller playing against NorthPort and TNT battled Barangay Ginebra as Cam Oliver sat on the bench in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup doubleheader at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday. With both imports sidelined for different reasons, the FiberXers bowed to Batang Pier, 112-97 and the Tropa lost to Ginebra, 89-85.
The losses were painful for both squads. Converge had hoped to extend its win streak to eight and enhance the team’s chances for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters while TNT planned to use a win over Ginebra as a springboard to seal a playoff slot. There’s still a possibility for Converge (8-3) to finish top two but the FiberXers must beat Ginebra on Nov. 30 and play the quotients if they manage to tie Magnolia and/ or Bay Area in the standings. It’s a long shot as Bay Area (9-2) and Magnolia (8-2) are currently ranked 1-2 with Converge losing to both in the elims. The Dragons wind up their schedule against TNT tomorrow while Magnolia faces Meralco on Sunday and Rain or Shine on Dec. 2. TNT (4-6) is in a bind, coming off two setbacks in a row but isn’t out of playoff contention. The challenge is to sweep its last two outings against Bay Area and San Miguel Beer on Saturday. The battle is tight in the middle with NorthPort (6-5), Phoenix (5-6), San Miguel (4-5), Meralco (4-5), TNT and Rain or Shine (4-6). The top eight teams advance to the playoffs with No. 1 meeting No. 8 and No. 2 playing No. 7 as the higher ranked qualifiers enjoy a twice-to-beat edge. Then, No. 3 will engage No. 6 and No. 4 will square off with No. 5 in separate best-of-three affairs. Survivors will proceed to the best-of-five semis, ending in the best-of-seven finals.
Oliver hurt his knee in TNT’s recent game against Meralco and is out for the conference. Coach Chot Reyes has brought in replacement Matt Mobley who arrived last Sunday and if he works out, the guard listed 6-5 will be retained for the Governors’ Cup. Mobley, 28, played two years at St. Bonaventure University, the same school that produced Bay Area’s Andrew Nicholson and Gilas’ Matthew Wright, and in the NBA Summer League with Utah before seeing action in Belgium, France,
Turkey, Germany and Spain. Last Oct. 26, Mobley collected 23 points, shooting 6-of-9 threes and 5-of6 free throws in 29 minutes in his German team Ratiopharm Ulm’s 98-90 loss to Brescia of Italy in the FIBA EuroCup.
Miller’s sit-out had nothing to do with an injury. He celebrated his 30th birthday last Friday and reported for practice late the next day without clearance. Converge coach Aldin Ayo decided to bench him for the game against NorthPort even at the risk of ending the seven-game win skein as a disciplinary measure. It was a tough stand, considering the circumstances but Ayo said he had to set an example for the rest of the team since everyone looks up to Miller. The team is now in a bonding exercise in Subic up to Wednesday – no basketball just getting together – and Ayo said it’s a perfect opportunity for Miller and the other FiberXers to re-group and re-commit to play their hardest with the playoffs coming up.