Games on Tuesday
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5:15 p.m. – Phoenix vs Blackwater
7:30 p.m. – TNT vs Converge
Team Standings
Group A
NLEX 4-0
San Miguel 3-1
Converge 3-1
Terrafirma 2-3
TNT 1-2
Macau 1-4
Titan 1-4
Group B
Phoenix 3-1
Blackwater 2-2
Meralco 2-2
Rain or Shine 2-2
Ginebra 1-2
Magnolia 1-2
JAMAAL FRANKLIN gets his second chance with Converge.
Mr. Franklin, who left the team under unfavorable circumstances back in 2023, received a call-up from the FiberXers to return to the fold for the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup hostilities.
The 6-foot-5 Mr. Franklin takes over from Jalen Hudson, who couldn’t deliver the goods in the first four games of Converge.
Mr. Hudson averaged 12.25 points, 6.75 rebounds, and 4.25 assists — numbers that paled in comparison with the other imports — and Mr. Franklin’s scoring prowess and all-around game should give Converge a major boost going forward.
In his maiden stint in Season 47, where he replaced first import Ethan Rusbatch, Mr. Franklin logged 34 markers, 11.7 boards, and 7.6 assists highlighted by a two 50-point outings — 53 and 57 in losses to NLEX and Meralco, respectively — and a 25-13-15 triple-double in a 112-98 win over Rain or Shine.
The FiberXers won five of their first seven matches with Mr. Franklin in tow but stumbled to three straight losses en route to a 6-5 record and seventh seed in the playoffs. But Mr. Franklin’s meager four markers on a lowly five attempts in Converge’s 101-120 beating from Ginebra led to then coach Aldin Ayo giving him the boot and bringing in Tom Vodanovich for the Last 8 campaign.
Current Converge mentor Delta Pineda activated the former Memphis and Denver player in time for Tuesday’s duel with defending champion TNT at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The FiberXers (3-1) are raring to get back on track in the 7:30 p.m. Group A gig after absorbing a 118-122 defeat to San Miguel last Wednesday. They face an injury-plagued Tropang 5G (1-2), who themselves are hell-bent on a pullaround, having lost their last two assignments, 87-103 to Titan Ultra and 106-111 in overtime to Terrafirma.
Meanwhile, Phoenix (3-1) and Blackwater (3-2) clash in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser in a battle for the Group B lead.
The protagonists are both out to regain their winning ways with the Fuel Masters smarting from their 98-115 setback to Rain or Shine and the Bossing reeling from back-to-back defeats to Meralco, 114-116, and Ginebra, 85-115. — Olmin Leyba