Converge wasted no time in displaying a new-found force, pouncing on the depleted Terrafirma, 116-87, to open its PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign on a high note on Wednesday, Nov. 27, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The FiberXers, who were brimming with confidence with key additions in Jordan Heading, Pao Javillonar and NBA-caliber import Cheick Diallo, went off to a blistering start and never looked back since then to complete the 29-point rout.

Diallo looked to be as good as advertised, dropping a double-double effort of 25 points and 16 rebounds while his frontcourt partner Justin Arana finished 16 points and 12 rebounds. 

Bryan Santos added 12 points while Mike Nieto added 11 off the bench. Heading had eight points, six assists and four rebounds in his PBA debut.

Terrafirma played without offseason additions Terrence Romeo and Vic Manuel due to an injury and illness, respectively. The team was also without big man Christian Standhardinger.

As strong as the performance in their opening game, Converge head coach Franco Atienza was more pleased with how the team executed even with their additions still adjusting to the team.

“More than the win or the score, we look at the process. We look at the way we play. Based on this, we shot 51-percent from the field and outrebounded them by half. Assists were a good number. It was just a good overall game for us,” said Atienza.

“Good first game. We dictated the pace very well and the guys are in sync at least for the first game,” he added.

The FiberXers played like a well-oiled machine in the opening frame, exploding for 34 points as they pounded the ball inside to their twin towers of Diallo and Arana which produced 18 points combined.

The duo’s offensive effort alone already surpassed the entire team production of Terrafirma for the quarter which only had 16.

The Dyip did show flashes of brilliance particularly in the third frame when they cut the once 21-point deficit in the first half to just eight points. 

The FiberXers, behind Diallo and the timely treys from Nieto, once again broke the game wide open, and this time for good as they stretched to lead to as big as 33 points in the final frame.

Rookies CJ Catapusan and Mark Nonoy, who also both made their debuts, provided some ray of hope to Terrafirma’s gloomy start with 13 and 11 points respectively. Import Ryan Richards had 10 points and 10 rebound to his name.

The Scores :

CONVERGE – Diallo 25, Arana 16, Santos 12, Nieto 11, Heading 8, Winston 7, Stockton 7, Ambohot 6, Fleming 6, Andrade 5, Racal 5, Fornilos 3, Javillonar 3, Santos 2, Cabagnot 0.

TERRAFIRMA – Catapusan 13, Sangalang 11, Pringle 11, Nonoy 11, Richards 10, Carino 8, Hernandez 6, Ramos 5, Melecio 4, Paraiso 3, Ferrer 3, Zaldivar 2, Hanapi 2

QUARTERS : 34-16, 59-42, 86-67, 116-87