Converge continued its onslaught in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup as it claimed the scalp of Rain or Shine, 112-98, and extended its dominance in the season-ending tournament Thursday night at the Philsports Arena.
By posting its best start so far and taking a hold of the solo lead – it now has a 4-0 win-loss record – the young franchise also sent across a message to the rest of the league that it is a club to be reckoned with.
Typifying the FiberXers’ dominance was the solid, all-around game of import Jamaal Franklin, who came away with a triple-double performance.
He finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 15 assists barely two weeks into the squad. Head coach Aldin Ayo said he expects even more from his reinforcement as the tournament progresses.
As a team, though, Ayo believed the FiberXers will still need more time to become a much better squad and contend against the heavyweights in the league.
The loss was the third in as many games for the Elasto Painters, who also lost their head coach Yeng Guiao in the final minute of the third period after incurring his second technical foul.
The Scores:
CONVERGE 112 – Franklin 25, Arana 21, Teng 17, Balanza 12, Tratter 11, Stockton 10, Ahanmisi 7, Murrell 5, Tolomia 2, Racal 2, Guinto 0, Ambohot 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 98 – Qualls 34, Nambatac 16, Mamuyac 8, Demusis 8, Santillan 7, Ponferrada 6, Torres 6, Nieto 6, Caracut 3, Asistio 2, Belga 2, Ildefonso 0, Borboran 0, Yap 0, Clarito 0.
QUARTERS: 29-21, 52-48, 84-69, 112-98.
