Despite opening its campaign with an impressive win, Converge still made a key adjustment as it tapped a new import in National Basketball Association veteran Jamaal Franklin in the Governors’ Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.
FiberXers governor Atty. Chito Salud told Daily Tribune that they were not satisfied with the performance of Ethan Rusbatch, prompting them to bring in a player with more solid credentials.
The FiberXers placed Rusbatch, a member of the New Zealand national team, on reserved list, giving them the option to activate him again should the need arises.
“He could be better,” Salud wrote in a Viber message.
“Our objective is to make it to the next level, that is the semifinal round.”
Rusbatch had an average performance of 17 points and nine rebounds in his first game with Converge last Sunday at the Philsports Arena.
Fortunately for the FiberXers, Mac Ahanmisi erupted for 29 points and nine assists to lead them to an impressive 122-92 victory over NorthPort.
Franklin is coming in with an impressive resume.
Taken in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-5 Franklin played for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Denver Nuggets in the NBA before seeing action for the Los Angeles D-Fenders and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA G League.
His latest tour of duty was in China in which he played for the Shanghai Sharks, the Shanxi Loongs, the Sichuan Blue Wales, the Shanxi Brave Dragons, and the Zheijang Lions.
Franklin will be officially measured on Thursday, right before the FiberXers’ game against Terrafirma.
