EASL: Dragonflies becomes 2nd team to qualify for Final Four Spot
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SMB escapes Converge late game rally to win Game 1
San Miguel took Game 1 of their best-of-five quarter finals series against Converge FiberXers, 102-95 on Thursday night, September 26, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Beermen new import EJ Asonike, in lieu of the injured Jordan Adams, showed a decent debut performance by producing 28 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
Photo Courtesy: PBA Images
"He has this physicality inside, and he grabs boards. He likes to power inside and that's good in getting our shooters open," described by SMB’s coach Jorge Gallent of their new reinforcement.
June Mar Fajardo also delivered well with his double-double production, tallying 25 markers and 16 boards. He also swatted three shots.
"According to coach (Gallent), the Game 1 of the series is important, we need to get it,” said the eight-time MVP in Filipino.
Kris Rosales also contributed well by sizzling hot in the third quarter producing 11 points, while CJ Perez added the same number of points.
SMB started the game well posting a 30-23 lead in the first quarter but Converge fought back in the second canto and even led 50-49 late in the first half, though it was cut short as the Berrmen took the lead again and had a 55-50 halftime advantage.
In the third period, San Miguel played well again and finished the quarter with 85-72 win, and in the final quarter of play, the Beermen erected a 16-point lead - the largest of the game with 3:44 left in the game.
But the FiberXers fought back from the 97-91 disadvantage to make the game close and made it a 99-95 count of JL Delos Santos three-pointer.
Converge even had a chance to tie with a four-point shot, but Delos Santos committed an errant pass to Schonny Winston during one of the final plays of the game.
That was the turning point of the game that gave the 29-time PBA champion team San Miguel the upper hand and recorded a 102-95 victory.
“In the end game, it was just composure,” said Gallent. “We just wanted to close the game really quick. We should have just held the ball a bit longer. We made quite a few mistakes coming into the end that’s why the lead went down.”
Jalen Jones, who tasted his first loss of the season, led the FiberXers with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Converge import was complemented by Justin Arana’s 20 markers, Winston’s 17, and King Caralipio‘s 10.
Game 2 of the series will be on Saturday, September 28, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
SAN MIGUEL 102 - Anosike 28, Fajardo 25, Perez 11, Rosales 11, Trollano 6, Cruz 6, Romeo 4, Ross 4, Lassiter 3, Enciso 3, Brondial 1.
CONVERGE 95 - Jones 22, Arana 20, Winston 17, Caralipio 10, Delos Santos 7, Stockton 5, Ambohot 5, Cabagnot 3, Andrade 3, Santos 3, Nieto 0.
QUARTERS : 30-23, 55-50, 85-72, 102-95.
