Converge displayed poise down the stretch and claimed a huge scalp in San Miguel Beer, 107-103, to get back on the winning track in the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, Feb. 11.
The FiberXers came through with big plays on both ends with Jamaal Franklin, Maverick Ahanmisi and Justin Arana conspiring for the big win while handing the Beermen their first loss in six games.
The triumph also tied Converge with its opponent at second spot.
Franklin scattered 10 of his 37 points in the final frame while Ahanmisi contributed 15 points including a crucial corner triple that gave the FiberXers a 102-98 cushion.
CJ Perez delivered an and-1 in the pivotal stretch to cut SMB's deficit within one, 102-101, but Franklin and Arana came through with huge plays to preserve Converge's lead in the waning minutes.
Franklin also finished with nine rebounds and seven assists while Alec Stockton and Jerrick Balanza finished in double figures for the FiberXers with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Cameron Clark paced SMB with 30 points, but was limited to four points in the final canto as no other player except for Perez and Jericho Cruz scored in the last five minutes of the contest.
Perez had 28 points while Cruz posted 14 points, but were not enough to help SMB survive a cold-shooting night from three-point territory with a measly 4-of-28 clip from the field.
It also didn’t help that June Mar Fajardo was hampered by foul trouble in the second half before fouling out with still 2:57 to go, finishing with seven points.