Converge officers are nonetheless deciding on the destiny of Jamaal Franklin (proper), who turned gun-shy within the sport towards Barangay Ginebra. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Converge administration will take its time earlier than making a call on the destiny of import Jamaal Franklin, whose efficiency — or nonperformance — left followers and FiberXers coach Aldin Ayo clueless.
“We haven’t discussed anything as we are on a break as of the moment,” mentioned staff official CK Kanapi-Daniolco on Monday within the aftermath of Franklin’s mysterious four-point outing in a 120-101 loss to Barangay Ginebra at PhilSports Area in Pasig Metropolis.
Franklin solely took 5 pictures in that setback, an enormous distinction to his run of type since changing Ethan Rusbatch two video games into the Philippine Basketball Affiliation Governors’ Cup.
In the course of the defeat that ended the FiberXers’ probabilities of getting a twice-to-beat benefit within the quarterfinals, Franklin opted to go the ball greater than regular as a substitute of attempting to hit pictures, together with uncontested ones, which he has constantly transformed.
Earlier than the sport towards Ginebra, Franklin scored 57 factors in a 132-129 additional time defeat by the hands of Meralco after needing 36 pictures to supply his output—one thing that diminished Ayo to an astonished smile.
“It’s either he takes 36 or he takes five. I mean, what’s the deal?” a puzzled Ayo advised reporters earlier than suggesting that adjustments are within the offing.
Ayo didn’t elaborate on what sort of adjustments, if it’s a tactical one or a matter of giving Franklin a aircraft ticket again dwelling and discover a alternative in time for the quarterfinals.
However Ayo felt that it was not the primary time that he felt that Franklin had performed questionably, though the earlier incident was not as evident because the Ginebra sport.
Three straight losses
“I was a bit surprised, but there was already a precedent. There were some games, especially against Blackwater, where his body language was different,” he mentioned in Filipino.
“At the back of my mind, there was always that possibility that he might do it again. But the instruction was really to play within the system. But I don’t know what happened,” added Ayo.
In a 98-90 victory over Blackwater, Franklin scored 19 factors on six-of-16 taking pictures and had 15 rebounds to go together with 5 assists. He additionally had six turnovers. Earlier than that sport, Converge misplaced to NLEX, 116-112, in a duel the place Franklin completed with 53 factors on a 12-of-30 efficiency from the sector and turning the ball over 12 instances.
Converge has already accomplished its elimination spherical slate with a 6-5 document, dropping three straight video games together with these matches towards Meralco and Ginebra. INQ
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