Converge FiberXers shock San Miguel Beermen to share a 5-1 win-loss card in the PBA Governor’s Cup leaderboard
4 min readConverge has silenced the skeptics with a stunning victory over powerhouse team San Miguel Beermen, 107-103, in a thrilling PBA Governor’s Cup match at the Mall of Asia Arena Saturday night, February 11.
The impressive four-game win streak to start the conference was just a prelude to this defining moment for Converge, who showed that they have what it takes to compete with the best in the league.
This upset victory is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Converge team and marked a turning point in their season as they continue to climb the ranks and make their mark in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
“It’s big and it’s a big morale boost for us. But we have to handle this win well and we have to learn from this. Though we won this game, we still have a lot to work on.
We’re still a work in progress,” said Converge Coach Aldin Ayo, as they stunningly defeated the previously undefeated Beermen and tied with them at the top of the leaderboard with a record of 5-1.
Jamal Franklin credited their win against San Miguel to a cohesive team effort, with special recognition for the crucial contributions of Maverick Ahanmisi, Justin Arana, and Barkley Ebona during the critical moments of the game.
Franklin, who, despite his impressive performance, acknowledged the invaluable support he received from his fellow local teammates, said: “I’m the best player of the game but I couldn’t do it by myself.”
He put up a dominant performance with 37 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Ahanmisi, Stockton, and Balanza contributed with 11 points or more each, as the FiberXers effectively shut down the previously undefeated Jorge Gallent-coached Beermen.
Jamal Franklin of Converge showed his dominance as the FiberXers escaped past the San Miguel Beermen during their Governor’s Cup encounter at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena Saturday, February 11.PBA PHOTO
The Beermen’s shooting struggled as June Mar Fajardo was limited to only seven points and the team as a whole managed to convert only 4 out of 27 three-point attempts.
This was a significant drop from their usual 42 percent three-point shooting accuracy, which previously ranked them as the best in the league.
Coach Ayo and his team meticulously prepared for the match, seeking to avenge their quarterfinal elimination at the hands of the Beermen in the recent Commissioner’s Cup.
The competition was intense, with neither team managing to maintain a lead larger than ten points.
The Beermen appeared to have the game under control with a 91-86 lead, but Franklin’s three-pointer sparked a rally that swung the momentum in favor of Converge.
Franklin made a powerful move to the hoop and successfully converted his shot, putting Converge ahead by five points with a score of 106-101 and just 37.6 seconds left on the clock. Arana then stepped up and drained two crucial free throws, solidifying Converge’s lead.
The boxscores:
Converge 107 – Franklin 37, Ahanmisi 15, Stockton 14, Balanza 11, Arana 9, Ebona 8, Tratter 6, Teng 5, Guinto 2, Racal 0, Murrell 0.
San Miguel 103 – Clark 30, Perez 28, Cruz 14, Lassiter 8, Fajardo 7, Tautuaa 4, Bulanadi 3, Ross 3, Manuel 2, Brondial 2, Enciso 2.
