Jordan Heading is excited for Converge to compete for the title in the PBA Philippine Cup, which ends at the end of the season.

According to the Fil-Aussie rookie, the FiberXers will play as a cohesive team for the first time in the All-Filipino conference, something they were unable to do during the Commissioner’s Cup because top overall pick Justine Baltazar arrived late.

After gaining experience by participating in 12 games at the mid-season conference, Heading believes the 6-foot-8 Baltazar is finally reaching his full potential.

“We’re excited to unleash Justine in the conference. We’re going to ride on his post up games as well as all of our talent,” stated his fellow freshman’s rookie guard.

Despite having a 1-0 lead, the third-seeded FiberXers were defeated by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a best-of-three quarterfinal series. 

Heading’s back spasm from the team’s 114-104 loss in Game 2 made matters worse. He struggled in the game’s sudden-death Game 3, finishing with just three points (1-of-8 shooting), five rebounds, and four assists in a 112-103 loss.

Having lost to San Miguel in Game 5 of the Governors’ Cup playoffs, this is the team’s second consecutive quarterfinal loss.

Baltazar averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in the three games he played in the quarterfinals, while Heading averaged 17.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in his maiden PBA playoffs.

The other locals who averaged in double figures for Converge were Alec Stockton (19.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists), Justine Arana (18.0 points and 7.0 rebounds), and Deschon Winston (13.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists). Heading was sufficiently encouraged by these players to believe the FiberXers could be a formidable team in the final conference of Season 49.

“I think we really have a good chance. We’re looking forward to that,” stated the former first overall pick in the Gilas special draft in 2020.

In addition, the FiberXers’ early playoff elimination gives them even more motivation to recover.

“We got all the motivation in the world now,” Heading noted.