Converge is coming off a convincing win, but that didn't stop the FiberXers from switching imports right away.
Converge isn’t playing around.
Fresh off an opening day 30-point shellacking of Northport, the FiberXers have now tapped former NBA player Jamaal Franklin as their import. He replaces Ethan Rusbatch, who has been moved to the team’s injured list.
The PBA made the change official today, listing the change on league’s official website. With Converge’s import switch, Franklin, 31, will be the latest NBA veteran in this tournament’s bumper crop of imports, after NLEX’s Jonathon Simmons, Meralco’s KJ McDaniels, and Magnolia’s Eric McCree.
Franklin was selected 41st by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2013 NBA Draft, ultimately signing with the team but playing only for its G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Antz. The San Diego State alum then played for the Zheijang Lions in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) before returning to the G League. Franklin then played briefly for the Denver Nuggets in the 2015–2016 NBA season before becoming a fixture in the CBA, where he had been playing since 2017.
Rusbatch, a member of the New Zealand national team, was solid but hardly spectacular in his lone game for Converge, posting 17 points and 9 rebounds in 37 minutes of action.
Converge will be gunning for a second straight win in tomorrow’s game against Terrafirma.