Converge FiberXers survived a tough duel down the stretch and eked out a pulsating 111-109 win over the Magnolia Hotshots in the 47th PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Import Jamaal Franklin delivered crucial baskets in the closing minutes, helping the FiberXers stay undefeated in the season-ending conference at 3-0 (win-loss.
Franklin fired a team-high 26 points, 12 coming in the final quarter that saw the two squads engage in a thrilling duel.
Converge was just ahead by three, 108-105, when Franklin dropped a well-contested trifecta that gave the FiberXers six-point cushion with only 1:04 left.
Magnolia, however, did not give easily.
Import Erwin McCree racked up four straight points that shoved the Hotshots within four and they got a golden opportunity when Franklin threw an errant pass with 10 seconds left.
In the end, McCree could not complete his heroics as his potential game-winning triple missed the target, allowing the FiberXers to escape.
Franklin, who added 13 rebounds and seven assists, was backed by Maverick Ahanmisi and Alec Stockton, who tallied 22 and 18 points, respectively.
Stockton’s total output was a career-high.
McCree led the Hotshots with 38 points and 16 rebounds. Paul Lee donated 21 points, while Jio Jalalon finished 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.
In the second game, the San Miguel Beermen started their campaign with a rousing 114-93 win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
Cameron Clark unloaded 23 points, June Mar Fajardo tallied 19 and new recruit Allyn Bulanadi had 16 as the Beermen gave their head coach Jorge Gallent an auspicious debut.
Simon Enciso and Marcio Lassiter also scored in double figures for the Beermen with 14 and 11, respectively.Du’vaughn Maxwell fired 21 points to lead Phoenix, which succumbed to their third defeat in as many games.
Image courtesy of PBA Media Bureau
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