Converge brings its quarterfinal showdown with San Miguel to a do-or-die Game 5 in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
Converge head coach Franco Atienza is under no illusion that the task ahead of them will be easy.
While the FiberXers surprised fans with twin victories against powerhouse San Miguel to bring their best-of-five quarterfinal clash in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup to a sudden death, Atienza knows that momentum would not matter against a championship-tested crew.
“If you go up against a perennial contender, balewala 'yung momentum, eh,” said Atienza shortly after his charges' scored a 114-100 Game 4 win over the Beermen at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Oct. 4, Friday.
Converge is on the cusp of pulling off a reverse sweep against San Miguel when they meet anew two days later.
After extending the series to a Game 4 on Alec Stockton’s game-winner which capped the FiberXers' fightback from 27 points down last Monday, September 30, Converge had a more convincing win this time around.
The FiberXers dropped 37 points in a decisive third period and sustained that fiery form in the final frame to score another stunner against the Beermen.
But San Miguel is a multititled squad for a reason. With players like eight-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez and Chris Ross, the Beermen have enough in their arsenal to be confident under pressure.
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Now it all boils down to who wants the semifinal seat more.
“Stats will be out; momentum will be out. It’s just one game. So whoever would want it more, however cliche that may sound, 'yun ang makakakuha nito,” Atienza said.
“Wala nang pinag-uusapan dito na history na stats na winning streak, wala nang losing streak. It will all boil down to that one game. It will be a dogfight on Sunday," he added.