Converge cures Terrafirma curse

MANILA, Philippines — A few months ago, the Terrafirma Dyip scored a massive upset against the Converge FiberXers, outlasting them, 111-100, in overtime. 

On Wednesday evening, Terrafirma once again looked primed at pushing for another upset, but their comeback effort came just a tad short, 105-103, in their PBA Governors’ Cup clash. 

Justin Arana, after the game, said the pain they felt in the surprising loss back in March was their “main motivation” coming into Wednesday. 

“Siyempre, malaking bagay last conference yung talo namin sa kanila. Pero siyempre, trinabaho lang namin, binigay lang namin 100% best namin kasi siyempre sobrang gusto naming bumawi this conference kasi sobrang disappointing nung last conference namin,” Arana said after the game. 

With import Jalen Hudson basically a non-factor offensively with just two points on 1-of-14 shooting on the field, it was Arana who rolled up his sleeves and carried the offense. 

Arana had 31 points, to go with 10 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. 

“Kailangan naming makabawi this conference. Yan talaga yung main motivation namin. Hindi na maulit yung last conference,” he added. 

Converge led by as much as 16 points in the game, 78-62, in the third quarter. 

They continued to hold a double-digit advantage, taking a 103-93 edge with 4:02 left after a triple by Archie Concepcion.

But the Dyip unleashed a 10-2 run in the next almost three minutes to slice the deficit to two, 103-105, with 1:16 remaining. 

An Aljon Mariano short stab was blocked by Justine Baltazar late, and while Terrafirma secured a stop with about 15 seconds to go, they settled for a 4-pointer with time winding down as their comeback attempt came up short. 

FiberXers head coach Delta Pineda, for his part, said that it is a good thing they have moved on from the “Terrafirma curse”. 

“If we’re going to look at the stats, siguro same naman po noong last game. Siguro talagang pag kalaban kami ng Tera talagang ganado po sila talaga. We had a 16-point lead diba? Pero nahabol pa rin,” he said. 

“But good thing nalampasan na po namin yung sumpa with Terra.” 

Pineda also stressed that Hudson lost his rhythm in the game, which affected the squad. 

“Yung import namin right now, hindi makuha yung rhythm niya for this game. Yun ang nawawala sa amin, yung score ng import namin right now, for this game,” he said. 

“Bigyan pa ho natin ng pagkakataon. Last game naman, nag-perform naman din ang import namin, baka for this game lang talagang siguro nanibago.” 

Aside from Arana, Juan Gomez-de Liano (19 points), Justine Baltazar (16 points), Concepcion (13 points) and MJ Garcia (12 points) finished in double digits for Converge. 

Justin Strings powered Terrafirma with 40 markers.