Jordan Heading gets baptism of fire vs supposed former team as Converge-Terrafirma game opens PBA Comm's Cup

A new chapter for Converge and Terrafirma will begin right at the start of the PBA Commissioner's Cup. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Jordan Heading's PBA debut will come at the expense of the team that drafted him.

Terrafirma, who once held Heading's rights before letting him go to Converge via a recent trade, will face the player they are supposed to have right in the shooting guard's first foray in the Philippines' top-tier basketball league as both teams clash in the first game of the mid-season Commissioner's Cup on Nov. 27.

The Dyip and FiberXers will face off at 5 p.m. on the said date at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

Pao Javillonar, who just finished his final year with Letran in the NCAA, is also expected to make his PBA debut for Converge.

Aljun Melecio and Keith Zaldivar, the two players the FiberXers gave up to acquire Heading, will make their debut with the Dyip against their former team.

Also to watch out for Terrafirma is Ryan Richards, the lone seven-foot import in this season's PBA Commissioner's Cup.

Raymond Tiongco makes his debut as the team's head coach as well as he takes over from John Cardel.

The 13th team for the conference, Hong Kong Eastern, also makes its debut on opening night, facing Phoenix in the second game of the Nov. 27 doubleheader.

Cameron Clark makes his third stop in the PBA after suiting up for NLEX and San Miguel in the previous two.

Action will shift to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium for two straight nights with NorthPort and NLEX facing off in the first game of the Nov. 28 doubleheader followed by the clash between Blackwater and Magnolia.

The Meralco Bolts make their conference debut on Nov. 29 against the Fuel Masters, right before the showdown between the FiberXers and Long Lions.

The PBA will then spend the Bonifacio Day weekend at the Ynares Center in Antipolo with the Road Warriors taking on the Bossing and the Dyip battling the Batang Pier right on the holiday itself.

Rain Or Shine makes its debut on Dec. 1 against Meralco right after the Magnolia-Converge game.

San Miguel then opens its campaign on Dec. 3 against Phoenix back at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium after Terrafirma takes on NLEX.

The TNT Tropang Giga's quest for back-to-back titles opens with an early acid test as the Long Lions await them on Dec. 6 also at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, after the Bolts battle the Dyip.

The PBA will then play games at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City with Blackwater taking on Eastern and SMB battling ROS on Dec. 10.

Barangay Ginebra will only get to play the night after back at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, facing the Road Warriors after the Hotshots battle the Tropang Giga.

Ginebra will then be featured in the first non-Mega Manila game of the conference on Dec. 21 against Converge at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.

The night after back at the PhilSports Arena, the Long Lions and Beermen will finish a de facto home-and-home set as both squads will first face off in a Dec. 18 EASL clash at the former's homecourt, the Southorn Stadium in Hong Kong.

Just like in recent years, a "Manila Clasico" chapter will commence right on Christmas night as the Gin Kings and Hotshots collide in the second game of the first stop of the conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City after the Bolts take on the FiberXers.

"The Big Dome" will also be the designated arena for the first set of PBA games for 2025 with Eastern taking on Meralco and Ginebra battling SMB on Jan. 5.

Both the Beermen and Bolts will play in the other non-Mega Manila game of the eliminations on Jan. 18 at the Candon City Arena.

The PBA shied away from an option to have six Eastern games for the elimination round played at the Southorn Stadium and decided that all of their games in the conference would be played in the Philippines.

Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno