PBA Free Agency: NLEX draftee is going to Converge!

 

Converge Adds Jhan Nermal: A Low-Risk, High-Reward Move or a Chemistry Risk?

Converge continues its aggressive approach in reshaping its roster, this time by signing Jhan Nermal, a 6-foot-3 forward who was recently placed on the unrestricted free agent list by NLEX.

Nermal’s journey to the PBA has been anything but conventional. From Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, to the MPBL, to a second-round pick in the PBA Draft, and now a new team, his career has been marked by perseverance. At 29 years old, he’s still trying to establish himself as a legit PBA contributor.

But while this move is an intriguing gamble, Converge needs to be cautious. Their constant roster shuffling may lead to instability and chemistry issues if they’re not careful.

A Good Strategy – With Some Risks

On one hand, taking low-risk chances on unproven players makes sense. Converge is clearly searching for hidden gems—guys who can overperform relative to their salary and expectations.

With limited resources and no access to top-tier superstars, Converge’s approach is to build a roster of hungry, overlooked players hoping to prove themselves.

But the downside? Too much movement can disrupt team chemistry.

This team has already seen a revolving door of players, and constantly adding and removing guys doesn’t allow a core to build trust and cohesion. If Converge keeps shuffling its roster without establishing stability, they might never find the consistency needed to truly compete.

Will Nermal Get a Real Opportunity?

Nermal showed flashes of promise at NLEX, particularly in his early games. But a coaching change led to his minutes drying up, and ultimately, his departure.

At Converge, he has a real shot at carving out a role—especially with Pampanga Governor Delta Pineda, the team’s assistant manager, being familiar with his game from his time in the MPBL.

The key question is: Will Converge actually commit to giving him a legitimate opportunity?

If they do, this could turn out to be a great low-cost move. But if he’s just another short-term experiment, this could end up as another forgettable roster transaction for Converge.

Final Thoughts

Converge’s willingness to take chances on overlooked players is commendable. But at some point, they need to stop the constant reshuffling and focus on building real team chemistry.

If Nermal can find his footing and contribute, then this could be a steal. But if Converge continues to swap out players at this rate, they risk becoming a team with no true identity or stability—something that could haunt them in the long run.