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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Retooled Converge welcomes PBA guest team Macau

Retooled Converge welcomes PBA guest team Macau

Published Mar 10, 2026 02:40 pm

At A Glance

  • The rest of the league is finally getting the first look of what could be a potential powerhouse in the future as Converge welcomes guest team Macau Black Knights in the opening day of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, March 11.

The rest of the league is finally getting the first look of what could be a potential powerhouse in the future as Converge welcomes guest team Macau Black Knights in the opening day of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, March 11.

Tip-off of the contest is at 7:30 p.m. with the clash between Titan Ultra and Terrafirma at 5 p.m. serving as the curtain raiser to the mid-season conference.

On paper, the FiberXers looked capable of taking any other team — even the perennial contenders — but the challenge right now is to translate that brimming talent into actual victories.

No doubt that retaining the core of their last Philippine Cup run in the likes of Juan Gomez de Liano, Justin Arana, Alec Stockton and Justine Baltazar makes Converge one of the contenders.

Adding Calvin Abueva, a Best Player of the Conference finalist in the All-Filipino Cup, as well as Mikey Williams, a two-time Finals MVP for TNT, surely put the team among the most talented in the league.

For one, the team also tapped NBA-caliber import Kylor Kelly as its reinforcement.

Chemistry, however, ought to be a problem especially with the short time together — something that the Black Knights hope to take advantage of.

And making sure to lead the PBA guest team is import who is already familiar to the brand of play in the league, Tony Mitchell. Also back in the PBA fold is Ramon Cao, who played for the Hong Kong Eastern team last season.

The Black Knights also have three CBA players in Zijie Lu, Xiaoxi Li and Jiashuo Li. Also part of the crew are Chao Xingzhao, Zhu Zhaojing, Damian Chongqui, Phoenix Shackelford, Wang Yingran, Lao Chonpong, Chan Lihsing, and Gao Yufeng.

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