Mighty San Miguel, parading import EJ Anosike for the primary time, practically blows a 16-point fourth-quarter lead with 4 minutes left earlier than denying gutsy Converge a Recreation 1 PBA quarterfinal comeback
MANILA, Philippines – Mighty San Miguel bought off to a successful begin within the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, however not earlier than surviving a late scare from scrappy Converge, 102-95, on the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, September 26.
Eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo performed each little bit of the multi-awarded champion he’s, main the way in which with an enormous line of 25 factors on 11-of-20 capturing, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and a pair of steals.
Import EJ Anosike, forged to the hearth as a late alternative for the injured Jordan Adams, made up for a lackluster 7-of-24 capturing evening with a 14-of-16 whole from the road on the way in which to a game-high 28 factors, 11 boards, and 5 dimes in his PBA debut.
Kris Rosales, in the meantime, virtually single-handedly sparked the Beermen’s third-quarter breakaway with 11 factors, all coming in that body alone. From a small 58-54 lead, the journeyman guard buried two triples and a mid-range jumper to account for 8 factors in a 12-4 spurt, 70-58, with 7:59 left.
As San Miguel held that double-digit separation till the sport’s waning moments, peaking with a 97-81 hole with 3:51 to play, Converge all of the sudden introduced out the large weapons with a shocking 14-2 surge in lower than two minutes, capped by a JL delos Santos triple, 95-99, with 57.7 seconds left.
The previous JRU guard, nonetheless, misplaced his hero cape virtually as quickly as he donned it, as he was additionally answerable for an important turnover with 16.6 seconds left that will have gotten Schonny Winston an open nook three try.
Anosike then iced the competition with two extra free throws off the intentional foul, 101-95, earlier than CJ Perez break up his personal charity sequence to set the ultimate rating.
“We simply wished to shut the sport actually rapidly, however we actually ought to’ve simply held the ball a bit longer,” mentioned San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent.
“We made fairly a number of errors coming into the tip, that’s why the lead went all the way down to [four]. We simply should have our composure, particularly within the endgame. We have now to know if we’re up or down in order that we all know what to do.”
Jalen Jones paced the failed comeback bid with a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double with 4 assists and a pair of steals, whereas Justin Arana and Winston backstopped the trouble with 20 and 17 factors, respectively.
Delos Santos, in the meantime, completed with 7 factors, 5 boards, 3 dimes, and three steals in precisely 24 minutes of motion.
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, Cabagbot 3, Andrade 3, Santos 3, Nieto 0.
Quarters : 30-23, 55-50, 85-72, 102-95.
– Rappler.com
