Pressure mounts on streaking Converge

Success comes with a steep price.

For Converge, the target on its back grows larger after every victory.

Shaking the balance of power with an amazing four-game winning streak to end the year, the FiberXers now seriously threaten traditional powerhouses in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup.

Converge took down depleted but still formidable Meralco, 110-94, in the young franchise’s first Christmas Day match Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We want to continue learning. We believe we still have a high ceiling for improvement to reach. We wanna hit that. We wanna continue improving,” FiberXers acting coach Franco Atienza said.

Converge, tied in second spot with guest team Hong Kong Eastern with identical 6-2 win-loss slates, and another independent team Rain or Shine are the hottest teams in the mid-season tournament with the same number of wins.

“But we know as we are doing this the targets on our backs are getting larger. We have great coaches here. All the other 12 teams have smart and high IQ players and coaches,” Atienza said.

“I’m sure at this moment our next opponents are already preparing for us, getting ready for us, and we will be tested. But we will be ready for that. That’s the essence of competition to always be at your best.”

The FiberXers racked up victories in impressive fashion. They swept a three-game swing in five days last week, including an upset over Barangay Ginebra before bringing down the Philippine Cup champions heading into the holiday break.

Jordan Heading on his first Christmas game, put on a great show leading the FiberXers with 30 points, eight assists and six rebounds as import Cheick Diallo backed him up with 24 markers and 19 boards.