By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Another solid big man will reinforce the debuting Converge FiberXers.
Abu Tratter, a former member of the Gilas Pilipinas national team and Alaska Aces’ starting forward, finally signed a contract with Converge and will immediately suit up in the ongoing 2022 PBA Philippine Cup.
The physical big man wasn’t able to grace Converge’s first three games against the Rain or Shine Elastopainters, the Magnolia Chicken Timplados, and the TNT Tropang Giga but will be ready in the next upcoming games.
Converge first announced the news after posting the development on their social media pages.
Tratter proved to be a steady contributor during their Alaska days and averaged an impressive 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds during the previous PBA Governor’s Cup and the franchise’s final season in the league.
Further details included in Tratter’s signed contract with Converge weren’t posted but the franchise owned his rights after Alaska was bought by the FiberXers.
Converge figured in a long negotiation period with the big man after an overseas team also sought his services.
However, after nearly a month, Tratter agreed to play for the FiberXers and will join his former teammates in Alaska.
Before Tratter, Converge also had a long window of negotiation with guard Maverick Ahanmisi but later on agreed to a contract and provided the offensive punch they needed.
Ahanmisi became a clutch contributor for the team and was a key factor in their come-from-behind win against the Chicken Timplados where they clawed back from a double-digit deficit and won the game in overtime.
Trattter will be joining Justin Arana, Tyrus Hill, Ben Adamos, and Jeo Ambohot in the team’s pool of big men and will seek to lead the youngsters as the oldest among them.
