CONVERGE paraded a new import against Terrafirma last night and the result was — you guessed it — a big rout.
With former NBA campaigner Jamaal Franklin showing the way, the FiberXers ripped the Dyip 130-115 for their second straight win in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Franklin, who replaced Ethan Rusbatch, sizzled with 42 points on seven three-pointers, to go with 10 rebounds and eight assists for Converge, while Maverick Ahanmisi chipped in 16 markers, nine boards, and two dimes.
Justine Arana and Jeron Teng added 15 points each, while Abu Tratter and Alec Stockton combined for 20 markers as the FiberXers scored a big follow up to their 122-92 demolition of NorthPort in the season-ending tourney’s opening match five days ago and rose to 2-0.
Converge coach Aldin Ayo said his team is going with Franklin the rest of the import-spiced tilt in lieu of Rusbatch, a member of the New Zealand Tall Blacks side, who apparently failed to impress the team’s coaching staff.
The 6-foot-5 Franklin, who started practicing with the team last Tuesday, saw action for the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets in the NBA after he was tabbed 41st overall in the 2013 draft.
“Jamaal played him but of course he’s still adjusting. Hopefully, sa mga susunod na practice namin he’ll be able to adjust doon sa sistema namin but he played a good game and again, he’s making all those passes, those extra passes to the locals,” Ayo said. “Good thing na iyong locals nai-convert nila iyong mga tira nila. I think we’ll go with Jamaal. We’ll stick with him. We’ll make sure na mag-fit siya sa mga ginagawa namin.
“Gusto naming lumalim ang execution namin because we can do this during the eliminations, work on our game plan and iyong schemes namin na kailangang lumalim kasi sa eliminations okay ito but hopefully when we reach the playoffs may ilalabas pa kami,” he added.
Terrafirma reinforcement Jordan Williams battled Franklin in a fiery first half shootout and led the Dyip to a 71-68 buffer at the half.
The FiberXers charged back and grabbed a 100-92 lead heading into the payoff period.
A Taylor Browne triple stretched Converge’s difference to as much as 130-108 with 1:10 remaining.
Williams carried the fight for Terrafirma with 46 points, six caroms, and three feeds, while Juami Tiongson had 18 and four.
Alex Cabagnot, Aldrech Ramos, and nee addition Kevin Ferrer also got 11, 10, and 10 markers, respectively, for the Dyip.
