CONVERGE eyes a third straight win while Blackwater guns for a 2-0 start as action in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup continues on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
The FiberXers clash with the Macau Giant Pandas at 5:15 p.m. followed by the match at 7:30 p.m. between the Bossing and the Magnolia Hotshots.
Blackwater opened the tournament with a 23-point hammering of Rain or Shine, while Magnolia blew a 16-point lead and eventually dropped a 98-86 decision to Phoenix.
“We had a great offseason. We talked about how we would get back into this conference and I think everybody has the motivation coming into this one,” said Blackwater coach Pat Aquino.
Kentrell Barkley had a dominant debut after registering a triple-double of 29 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
“With KB (Barkley) around, he’s a great help for us and he’s a great leader out there. We hope to continue working harder and improve more in the coming games,” Aquino said.
Meanwhile, the wards of Converge coach Delta Pineda won its first two games against Titan Ultra, 105-74, and Terrafirma, 105-103.
The FiberXers face a Giant Pandas side that are still gunning for their first win since dropping their first two outings.
Foreign team Macau got whacked by NLEX by 39 points on opening day, before suffering a 123-109 loss to San Miguel Beer.
Pineda said they are not taking the foreign guest squad lightly, aware of what Macau can do.
“Same thing, we have to prepare. In this kind of league we can’t be too confident,” Pineda said.
“Even if I have this kind of set-up, young players, we need to prepare against every opponent,” he added.
Pineda also hopes to see a stronger showing for import Jalen Hudson who only scored two points on a woeful 1-for-14 field goal shooting against the Dyip.
