CONVERGE big man Justin Arana battled reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer like a gritty gladiator in their best-of-5 quarterfinals clash in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Arana, 25, tried all his might to slay Fajardo, 34, and the Beermen but the FiberXers’ youth and lack of experience in the playoffs told heavily in the series that SMB won 3-2 capped by a pulsating 109-105 victory in sudden death three nights back.
For Arana, Converge will take to heart the lessons they learned.
“Ang mindset namin is to prove them wrong. Siyempre wala namang nag-i-expect sa amin dito, walang nag-i-expect na aabot kami dito,” Arana said.
“Kahit na talo kami this conference, this series, may mga positive pa ring nangyari sa amin and sobrang dami naming natutunan dito,” he added.
The Last Eight stint was the Dennis Anthony Uy-owned ball club’s best finish so far in its two years in the pro league.
The wards of interim coach Franco Atienza tantalizingly came so close to a maiden semifinal appearance, taking a 99-91 lead with seven minutes to play only to fade in the face of a vicious Beermen fightback.
The 6-foot-7 Arana, a former Arellano U standout, was hobbled with foul trouble in trying to contain Fajardo.
“May mga lapses kami especially sa akin kasi foul trouble ako noong first half and iyon, isa iyon sa kakulangan ko,” said Arana, who had eight points and six rebounds.
The grit and fight their foes showed were not lost on SMB strategist Jorge Gallent.
“It’s a pesky young team,” Gallent said. “We had a hard time going back on defense and everything.”
Added Fajardo: “Sobrang bilis nila. Kum¬pleto sila. May bigs sila tapos may shooters sila. Magiging con¬tender siguro iyong Converge in the future.”
With this year’s No. 1 pick overall Justine Baltazar expected to join the team in the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup, Arana is convinced they can finally get over the hump.
“Iyong mga players, lahat naman kami siyempre nanghihinayang kasi we’re almost there na. Kumbaga nag-collapse kami,” he said. “Pero sobrang proud ako sa team kahit na short kami sa quarterfinals.
“At least umabot kami dito, at nabigyan pa rin namin ang fans ng magandang laro.”
Retaining its core, linking up with a solid import, and adding Baltazar in the next tilt should further boost Converge’s title dream.
