Barangay Ginebra Kings cruised to their fourth straight with a 120-101 win over the Converge FiberXers in the 47th PBA Governors’Cup on Sunday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The victory allowed the Kings to tie the San Miguel Beermen at second place in the team standings with identical 7-2 (win-loss) records.
Jamie Malonzo, Christian Standhardinger and Justin Brownlee proved too much for the FiberXers as they led the Kings with a combined 85 points.
Malonzo finished with a game-high 29 points, while Standhardinger and Brownlee wound up with 28 points each.
Jeremiah Gray was the fourth King in twin digits with 16 points.
The biggest or the most surprising story of the night was the anemic showing of Converge import Jamaal Franklin.
One of the tournament’s high-scoring import, Franklin was uncharacteristically gun shy and finished with only four points.
It was such as bizarre game for Franklin especially that he was fresh from a 57-point explosion in Converge’s 129-132 loss to the Meralco Bolts last Friday.
Known to be a volume shooter, Franlkin he only attempted five shots in the entire match. He did not even take a single shot in the third quarter, which ended with the Kings ahead big, 93-78.
Interviewed by reporters after the game, Converge coach Aldin Ayo expressed his displeasure over Franklin’s performance and hinted at possible changes.
Maverick Ahanmisi fired 24 points to lead Converge, which ended its elimination round campaign with six wins and four loss, enough to assure them of a quarterfinal seat.
THE SCORES
GINEBRA (120) – Malonzo 29, Brownlee 28, Standhardinger 28, Gray 16, Thompson 5, Pinto 4, R.Aguilar 4, Pringle 3, Onwubere 3, Pessumal 0, Dillinger 0.
CONVERGE (101) – Ahanmisi 24, Teng 12, Murrell 11, Arana 11, Stockton 10, Tratter 9, Racal 7, Balanza 7, Franklin 4, Ebona 3, Tolomia 3.
QUARTERSSCORES: 29-24, 64-55, 93-78, 120-101.
Image courtesy of PBA Media Bureau
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