THE CONVERGE FIBERXERS ARE DOING SOMETHING ELSE

When the PBA Developmental League started in 2011, the goal was for PBA teams to use it as a platform to develop their seldom-used players by giving each team an affiliate. That idea quickly lost its purpose when PBA squads began tying up with college-based teams that used the league mainly to strengthen their collegiate campaigns.

The problem was that these partnerships didn’t benefit the PBA directly, since the collegiate players still had to enter the PBA Draft to be eligible. Things only got more complicated when the league decided to create a 3x3 competition, which further watered down the developmental system. For instance, TNT had the likes of Almond Vosotros and Ping Exciminiano, who were elevated to the main roster and were part of their 2024-25 championship run. Ginebra used its 3x3 roster to get players like Ralph Cu and Donald Gumaru. Both had to apply for the PBA Draft before joining the team, although in Gumaru’s case, he eventually signed as a rookie free agent after being drafted earlier.

Among all the franchises, only the MVP group maximized the D-League setup. They once sent players like Pamboy Raymundo there for development.

Unfortunately, the D-League slowly faded into irrelevance when the MPBL came into the picture.

At this point, I think the PBA should seriously reconsider bringing back the concept of team affiliates. The SMC and MVP groups already have their own informal farm systems, but Converge has been quietly building a similar network without attracting much backlash. In just two years, the FiberXers have managed to acquire at least seven players through their association with the MPBL’s Pampanga Giant Lanterns.

I’m not sure if Delta Pineda has stepped away from managing the province's MPBL squad, but right now, Converge has picked up a few players from that roster. They may have tanked the 2023–24 season to secure two-time MPBL MVP Justine Baltazar, but midway through the 2024–25 campaign, they also landed MJ Garcia and Ronan Santos. On top of that, they acquired the rights to Larry Muyang, signed Archie Concepcion, and brought in rookie free agent John Lloyd Clemente. At one point, they also had Ginebra rookie Sonny Estil and former Converge forward Jhan Nermal.

Oh wait.

They also picked up former Pampanga Giant Lantern Jaymo Eguilos from free agency and traded Kobe Monje, their 2027/Season 51 second-round pick, and their 2028/Season 52 first-round pick to Titan Ultra for the rights of Abra Weaver and former Strong Group player Dave Ildefonso.

Again, props to Converge's office.

The MVP group has its ties with Ateneo and San Beda, while SMC previously worked with DLSU and Letran, and now collaborates with Perpetual Help. The issue with these collegiate affiliations is that the players eventually enter the PBA Draft, and most of them end up getting picked by other teams.

If the goal is true player development, the PBA might want to look at the MPBL again. The league has a lot of strong teams that can serve as natural affiliates, such as the Abra Weavers, San Juan Knights, Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters, Quezon Huskers, Basilan Starhorse, and Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards. They could also help struggling teams like the Bulacan Kuyas, Marikina Shoemasters, and Muntinlupa Cagers instead of constantly relying on Terrafirma.

Sure, the drawback of tying up with MPBL teams is that they can’t offer draft picks in return. But if a PBA team loses players to injuries, they can still call up ready replacements from their MPBL affiliates. And if anyone is wondering how PBA teams could match the salaries that MPBL players reportedly earn, they don’t even need to go that far. They just need to use the league smartly to give their bench players the minutes and experience they need.

Look, as much as players are chasing higher pay outside the PBA and exploring other leagues where they can compete, many of them still dream of eventually playing in the PBA. Over the years, the MPBL has had its share of flaws, but it also offers several advantages that the PBA can’t. For one, the MPBL has solved the PBA’s Metro Manila problem by establishing teams with strong local fanbases. It also doesn’t rely on TV ratings as much, since most of its audience comes from livestreams.

Converge has found a clever loophole by essentially extending its reach across two leagues. What makes it more interesting is that Converge is doing this completely by the book. They still have free agents like CJ Payawal, Alvin Pasaol, Jeepy Faundo, Chris Lalata, and Allen Mina, along with whoever else they can sign to strengthen their system.

If someone like John Barba ends up joining Pampanga, it likely means they want him to develop there until he’s ready for the big stage. And it’s not just about Pampanga, because Converge also has ties with Strong Group. That’s why they were confident in selecting Juan Gomez de Liano. Any player with Pampanga roots will probably gravitate toward this setup.

The key words here are “affiliate” and “developmental.” These players might not be PBA-ready yet, but Converge is using this structure to make sure they get there. Forget about Baltazar for a second — have you seen how much Garcia has improved, or how Muyang, Clemente, and Concepcion played in their debuts this season? Clemente was the 39th pick in the 2023 PBA Draft, and yet he opened his career with a 10-point game.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see former Converge players like Kamron Vigan-Fleming, Inand Fornilos, and Pat Maagdenberg, along with unsigned 2025 draftees such as JM Manalang, JP Cauilan, Raphael Mallari, and Jordan Sta. Ana, suiting up for Pampanga next season. Converge is acquiring these players legally, and if the rest of the PBA fails to recognize what’s happening, the FiberXers might just end up pushing the SMC and MVP groups out of their long-held spots at the top.