EJ Anosike showed decent stuff in his PBA debut and helped San Miguel Beer snap out of a two-game slide, tripping Converge, 102-95, in the opener of their Governors' Cup best-of-five quarterfinals showdown at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium Thursday.
The third import unleashed by SMB after Jordan Adams and Sheldon Mac, Anosike was good as advertised, a burly inside force coming through with 28 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
June Mar Fajardo delivered his own double-double with 25 points and 16 rebounds while Kris Rosales had his significant contribution with an 11-point sizzler in the third as the Beermen withstood the FiberXers' gutsy stand.
Coach Jorge Gallent and his troops go for a follow-up in Game Two Saturday over at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
CJ Perez was a fourth SMB player scoring in double figures with 11 as the Beermen asserted themselves as the higher seeded team to strike with the first blow in the race-to-three series.
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"Sabi nga ni coach (Jorge Gallent), importante sa series ang Game 1, kailangang makuha namin ito, " said Fajardo.
Locked-in on that goal, the Beermen held sway most of the way and posted a lead as big as 16 at 97-81.
Anosike was a key part with his solid inside presence.
"He has this physicality inside, and he grabs boards. He likes to power inside and that's good in getting our shooters open," said Gallent of their new reinforcement.
Jalen Jones didn't do badly with 20 points and 12 rebounds complemented by 20 markers from Justin Arana, 17 from Deschon Winston and 10 from King Caralipio.
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The FiberXers put up a fighting stand, even grabbing the lead at 50-49 late in the second period.
But the Beermen regained the upperhand, 55-50, at the turn and opened a wide margin in the third on a decisive salvo highlighted by 3-of-3 three-pointers from Rosales.(SB)
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
