Clark, Manuel provide muscle as SMB overpowers Converge to book first semis seat
Cameron Clark and Vic Manuel provided the muscle inside the paint as San Miguel booked the first seat to the semifinals following a 121-105 victory over Converge in the quarterfinals of the 2023 PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum onSunday, March 19.
*Cameron Clark provides the firepower in SMB's quarterfinals win over Converge. (PBA Images)*
The Beermen pulled away in the searing third quarter onslaught, spearheaded by import Clark who pumped in 16 of his 40 points to help his team eliminate the FiberXers in the playoffs for the second straight conference. Clark also collared 13 rebounds while getting ample support from his local crew led by Manuel and CJ Perez. The veteran forward turned in a perfect shooting of 10-of-10 from the field to finish with 20 points while the cat-quick guard put up an all-around effort of 26 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five steals. SMB head coach Jorge Gallent was pleased to see his import take over when the team needed him especially in the absence of main man June Mar Fajardo. Clark even took charge during a stretch in the second quarter when he scored eight straight points after the rest of his teammates cooled down and allowed the FiberXers to take the lead. “Cam has always been great and he’s improving every game. We’re very happy that he tends to improve and it’s not only him who contributed tonight, everybody did especially with the absence of big boy (Fajardo) so Vic, Mo (Tautuaa), he played well today,” said Gallent. Clark then anchored a deciding 20-4 blast in the third frame, turning a 61-66 deficit into a 81-70 advantage. Converge never threatened from there as San Miguel simply had answers every time the FiberXers tried to make a run. Tom Vodanovich showed up big time in his first and last game in the PBA, dropping 39 points powered by six triples on top of 10 rebounds while Maverick Ahanmisi added 18 points. The efforts, however, proved to be not enough as Converge continued to search for its first playoff win in the franchise after failing to get past the quarterfinals for the second straight conference.
*Cameron Clark provides the firepower in SMB's quarterfinals win over Converge. (PBA Images)*
The Beermen pulled away in the searing third quarter onslaught, spearheaded by import Clark who pumped in 16 of his 40 points to help his team eliminate the FiberXers in the playoffs for the second straight conference. Clark also collared 13 rebounds while getting ample support from his local crew led by Manuel and CJ Perez. The veteran forward turned in a perfect shooting of 10-of-10 from the field to finish with 20 points while the cat-quick guard put up an all-around effort of 26 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five steals. SMB head coach Jorge Gallent was pleased to see his import take over when the team needed him especially in the absence of main man June Mar Fajardo. Clark even took charge during a stretch in the second quarter when he scored eight straight points after the rest of his teammates cooled down and allowed the FiberXers to take the lead. “Cam has always been great and he’s improving every game. We’re very happy that he tends to improve and it’s not only him who contributed tonight, everybody did especially with the absence of big boy (Fajardo) so Vic, Mo (Tautuaa), he played well today,” said Gallent. Clark then anchored a deciding 20-4 blast in the third frame, turning a 61-66 deficit into a 81-70 advantage. Converge never threatened from there as San Miguel simply had answers every time the FiberXers tried to make a run. Tom Vodanovich showed up big time in his first and last game in the PBA, dropping 39 points powered by six triples on top of 10 rebounds while Maverick Ahanmisi added 18 points. The efforts, however, proved to be not enough as Converge continued to search for its first playoff win in the franchise after failing to get past the quarterfinals for the second straight conference.