GIGANTIC BATTLE: Fajardo to test Baltazar in SMB-Converge duel

Games today:

(Ynares Center)

5 p.m. — Phoenix vs TNT

7:30 p.m. — San Miguel vs Converge

Converge coach Franco Atienza doesn’t want his players to be complacent and get ahead of themselves despite being in a good position to secure a quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup.

So, he expects the FiberXers to have a must-win mindset when they take on desperate defending champion San Miguel Beer today to close the elimination round at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Game time is at 7:30 p.m. after the 5 p.m. curtain-raiser clash between playoffs seat-seeking TNT and Phoenix.

Converge sits on top of the standings with an 8-3 win-loss record tied with NorthPort and are on a two-game roll.

Another win over by FiberXers will have them knocking on the door of the coveted Top 2 spot.

But it doesn’t mean an outright quarters incentive as NorthPort, Meralco (7-3), Hong Kong Easter (7-3) and the Tropang Giga (6-3) are all in the thick of the battle for the advantage.

“We’ll take care of what is at present. Right now, the present for us is San Miguel,” Atienza said of their rematch against 2024 Governors’ Cup quarters tormentor.

“Even if we win here, other teams’ games still have bearing. But we don’t want to get into a (possible tie), that we don’t take care of the things in our control,” he added.

Converge is coming off a convincing win over Blackwater, 103-96, last Sunday.

The Beermen, on the other hand, are on a two-game slide sporting a 4-6 slate for a tie with Magnolia and NLEX in a tight race for the No. 8 spot.

An interesting sidelight in the match is the showdown between San Miguel big man and eight-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and Season 49 top overall rookie pick Justine Baltazar.

The FiberXers freshman will have a handful trying to measure up against Fajardo with main center Justin Arana overextending his left knee the last time out.

“We’ll do our best with or without Arana. I’m confident with our other guys. It’s always next man up for us,” said Atienza, who will also bank on import Cheick Diallo, Jordan Heading, Schonny Winston and Alec Stockton.

San Miguel has been struggling with its team rotation the whole tournament with import changes which affected team chemistry.

Malik Pope only had four points in his debut as the Beermen’s fourth reinforcement and was on the bench in San Miguel’s painful 105-104 loss to the Batang Pier last Tuesday.

Another defeat will push the Beermen to the brink of elimination.

Just like San Miguel, the Fuel Masters have their backs against the wall with a 3-8 card tied with their last outing tormentor Blackwater.

Things are looking bleak for Phoenix as it will also need to pray hard that San Miguel, Magnolia and NLEX won’t reach five wins to force a playoff for the No. 8 spot if it hurdles the Tropang Giga.

TNT is hell-bent on rebounding from an upset over Terrafirma, 108-117, last Wednesday to stay on the hunt for a twice-to-beat advantage.