Franco Atienza. —PBA IMAGES
With a little over two weeks before the new PBA season begins, Franco Atienza was thrust into easily the most critical position within a Converge team trying to reclaim its competitive identity.
But he seems to be coping well.
“It’s just a matter of getting over the shock and now being ready for the next [thing],” said Atienza, the FiberXer’s former deputy who has been named Aldin Ayo’s successor on an interim basis.
“This happening weeks before the opening has two sides: You get derailed [with the preparations], but [the other] is we don’t have time to lose—to sulk, because there’s something we have to get ready for,” he went on.
“Upon learning the news, we’ve come together and agreed that we’ll try to put up a good fight this conference.”
Atienza, who started out as a video coordinator at defunct Alaska, is taking comfort in the thought that he will be getting his feet wet in the PBA with top-shelf coaches around him.
In between the Converge brain trust are Charles Tiu, Danny Ildefonso, Willie Miller, and Rajko Toroman. That is a fast-rising varsity tactician, two former Most Valuable Players, and Gilas Pilipinas’ pioneering mentor ready to show the way for Atienza and the FiberXers, who finished dead last in both conferences and won just a combined three games last season.
Had a taste of it
For his part, Atienza has previously shown that he has potential. He once took over Ayo during the league’s exhibition caravan last year, leading the club to an overtime victory over traditional powerhouse San Miguel.
But what really keeps the rookie coach confident ahead of his debut is his knowledge of the team. Atienza has known veteran Kevin Racal and young cornerstone Alec Stockton along with the team’s staff since their days at Alaska, whose franchise was later on acquired by Converge. He has also served Alex Compton, who led the Aces to multiple Finals appearances.
“Even though I just inherited [this squad], I have been familiar with the goals and the system in place,” he said. “We’ll bank on that.
“I’m not a stranger to this team. I know the players, I was with them and we went through the preseason together.”
With nine-time champion guard Alex Cabagnot coming in to backstop the crew starred by former Rookie of the Year Justin Arana, Atienza is looking ahead.
“I will enjoy the ride, I will do my best and I will not waste the trust that management has given me,” he said.
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Converge, which will have Scotty Hopson as its import, opens its Governors’ Cup bid against a rejigged Terrafirma side this Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.