Ed’s Note: Our writer Noel Tulabut is the only Pampanga-based media practitioner that has written extensively about the Converge FiberXers from its debut in 2022, the victories and losses, player and management changes that followed since.
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In 4 Seasons, 10 Conferences and 7 Quarterfinals. After 3 coaches, 2 Dennises have but 1 aim — advance to the semis. And they did.
Dennis Anthony Uy, owner of Converge FiberXers, waited for four years. And it took a Dennis Pineda as a head coach for just a year to help the young team of his namesake to reach a final four stage in the PBA.
Looking Back
A review of the journey of the team since its debut in 2022 — Converge acquired the Alaska franchise in March of that year. The Milkmen (known as Aces then) were sold lock, stock and barrel, including head coach Jeffrey Cariaso.
Team retained a competitive caliber but not of championship contender status. A threat but not of fearsome level. Thus, team went on a series of overhaul from players to head coaches (and even Team Governors).
Uy would give his FiberXers managers free hand in the formation of a stronger team. On recent questions raised to him by PNN, he would politely say that he lets his coach decide to make his line up more formidable.
Cariaso was eventually replaced by Aldin Ayo which was picked from the collegiate basketball coaching circuit. Assistant Coach Franco Atienza became an interim head coach when Ayo got axed. Three head coaches in three years — something reflective of the shaky trip for the team. Notwithstanding changes also in team management.
Pineda’s Stints
Enter Dennis Pineda on the fourth year who, in September 2025, was announced to become its head coach.
Prior to his assumption as chief mentor, Pineda served as Team Consultant. He was supposed to be the Team Governor but his appointment did not get approval from the PBA Board — a move seen by sports aficionados as a controversial counter move by the league.
Avoiding intrigues and head-on collision with other teams, Uy — who has the prerogative to name anyone he wants to represent Converge to the Board — chose not to drag the issue.
In a sports tourney where everyone’s role is of value, Uy showed that he is a team player himself and abided by the league’s decision. He also defined what a true gentleman could be not just in the Board Rooms but also in and out of the court.
Making history
In his very first head coaching game in the PBA in the Philippine Cup in November last year, Pineda stirred Converge in an impressive win against hard-to-beat Ginebra San Miguel.
Joaquin Henson, sports columnist of the Philippine Star, called the victory as one for the books. He wrote: “(That) is now in the PBA record books as the first Converge head coach to beat Barangay Ginebra in an All-Filipino conference.”
The highly respectable sports analyst wrote that Pineda “did it in style” with that 10-point beating of the crowd favorite Gin Kings.
The win also ended a four-game losing skid back then for the FiberXers.
Track Record: Sports and Public Service
Before his PBA full mentorship debut, one must remember that Pineda came from back-to-back championship plum for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL. It was a grueling league that involved more than 20 tiffs in one season that was also back-breaking, with road games all over the country.
In the recent playoff win over Rain or Shine, the series was dubbed as “Battle of Kapampangans” by Spin.Ph.
Pineda was faced with Cabalen Elasto Painters coach Yeng Guiao who he said is his inspiration for ably combining sports and public service. They were once partymates as “kuya Yeng” was once Pampanga’s vice governor, a position he now holds.
Where credit is due
Pineda is widely credited for developing talents from the grassroots level, sponsoring many leagues and teams.
And he gets recognized by the players themselves for doing so. PBA superstars like retired MVP Arwind Santos, Calvin Abueva and Justine Baltazar (Converge), Ian Sanggalang (Magnolia Hotshots) would always give him the credit for the faith in their skills.
In the series versus ROS, Pineda was able to draw the best in his players like Baltazar, Juan Gomez De Leaño and Mikey Williams who shot clutch and game-winning baskets in the closing minutes of Game 4 that gave them the 120-109 clincher.
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