CONVERGE players continued to post career numbers, and the team went on piling up victories.
The FiberXers preserved their hot run while keeping the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on a skid, with a 112-98 triumph marked by career milestones by Jamaal Franklin and Justin Arana.
Franklin became the first Converge player to log triple-double numbers with 25 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds while Arana scattered a career second-best 21 points, leading Converge past ROS and back into solo leadership in the PBA Governors Cup.
In their last outing, Alec Stockton had a career-best output.
For this game, Stockton, Jeron Teng, Jerrick Balanza, Abu Tratter - the four locals who started the game with Franklin - contributed at least 10 points each.
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It's another stellar showing by the FiberXers after a mere escape act versus the Magnolia Hotshots the last time out.
"It's not from our system. Yung ganyang performances galing sa extra nila, not necessarily in practice. Sila ang gumagawa niyan," said Converge coach Aldin Ayo.
And the young mentor wasn't surprised of Franklin's triple-double job.
"It's his game. He's a complete player who can score, execute and crush the boards when he needs to," said Ayo.
Putting in solid efforts together, the FiberXers beat the Elasto Painters in a high-scoring duel, with Franklin and Co. pouring 32 in the third to pull away to 84-69.
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Towards the end of the quarter, ROS coach Yeng Guiao was tossed out of the game for a second technical foul.
Michael Qualls erupted for a game-high 34 but those number proved not enough to inspire a flat ROS side.
The FiberXers outhustled and outplayed the E-Painters, leading by as many as 20 before notching win No. 4.
For his triple-double, Franklin shared the credit to his teammates.
"I just find the open passes. If my teammates didn't make the basket, I wouldn't get that triple-double," said Franklin who had had a 21-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist "TD" by the end of the third. (SB)
