Converge’s big man Justin Arana eyes another victory – third straight – in Season 50 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on Friday when the FiberXers take on the Macau Giant Pandas at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
‘It was a crucial moment when Balti blocked that shot. We played as a unit last time and we are hoping we keep this up against Macau,’ Arana said after Converge’s thrilling 105-103 win over Terrafirma last Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Despite Jalen Hudson’s misfiring, Arana registered his second best career night of 31 points – just one point short of tying his career high 32 points two years ago against Phoenix – in addition to 10 rebounds that gave the FiberXers their 2-0 start.
Meanwhile, veteran import Hudson hopes to bounce back from a terrible offensive night as Converge looks to stretch its winning run against Macau and gain a share of Group A leadership starting 5:15 p.m.
Blackwater and Magnolia clash in Group B at 7:30pm, with the Bossing targeting a 2-0 start after a 131-108 upset win over Rain or Shine and the Hotshots hope to rebound from their opening 86-98 defeat to Phoenix.
Hudson shot atrociously on 1-of-14 from the field and firing blanks from beyond the arc in six attempts as his squad almost blew a 16-point lead if not for Justine Baltazar’s defensive shot blocking heroics.
He fired 20 points, four assists, and got eight rebounds in Converge’s first win against Titan Ultra., 105-74.
Head coach Delta Pineda is also giving Hudson more time to adjust to Converge’s system.
Macau chases a breakthrough win after dropping its first two assignments in the season-ending conference.
The Giant Pandas are going to rely on Damian Chong Qui and De’Vondre Perry who averaged 29.0 and 25.5 points, respectively, in their losses to NLEX and San Miguel Beer.