QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The Converge FiberXers may have found their “missing link” in new import Donovan Smith, who led the team to a commanding 130-103 victory over a depleted Phoenix Fuel Masters squad on Sunday, April 26, 2026. The win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum marks Converge’s first back-to-back victory of the conference, improving their record to 4-6 and keeping them in the hunt for a PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals spot.
Smith, who recently finished a finals stint in Bahrain, showed no signs of rust as he replaced the struggling 7-footer Kylor Kelley.
- The Stat Line: Smith dominated the paint with 32 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks.
- Fresh Legs: Coach Delta Pineda emphasized that the team specifically sought an import who was already in game shape. “It’s a blessing that he had just finished playing… we felt that he was the best choice,” Pineda noted.
- The Phoenix Context: Phoenix was forced to play an all-Filipino lineup as their own import, James Dickey III, was sidelined with an ankle sprain. Despite the disadvantage, Ricci Rivero led the Fuel Masters with a game-high 26 points.
While Smith provided the scoring punch, the FiberXers’ local core delivered balanced contributions:
- Justine Baltazar: Posted a strong double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
- Alec Stockton: Chipped in 16 points to fuel the perimeter attack.
- Justin Arana & Juan Gomez de Liaño: Both players tallied 13 points each, providing playmaking and rebounding depth.
With this win, Converge now sits at the 9th spot, just half-a-game behind San Miguel Beer and Magnolia (both 4-5).
- The Road Ahead: The FiberXers face two critical matches to determine their postseason fate:
- vs. NLEX Road Warriors (Saturday, May 2, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
- vs. Blackwater Bossing (May 9, at Ynares Center, Antipolo)
- The Math: To secure a playoff berth, Converge likely needs to win both remaining games. However, they remain at a disadvantage in potential tiebreakers due to previous losses against the Beermen and Hotshots.
Despite the lopsided score, Smith remained humble about his performance. “I could play a little bit better,” he admitted. “But it’s a good game, we got the win. I was a little sad that I couldn’t play against their import, but it is what it is.”