The former NBA player was all over the court on Thursday.
Jamaal Franklin asked to be subbed out as he limped to the bench with still 2:02 remaining in Converge’s game against Terrafirma on Thursday.
By that time, the new FiberXers import already tallied team-high 42 points built on 7 triples as Converge eventually demolished the Dyip, 130-115 in their PBA Governors’ Cup encounter at the PhilSports Arena.
The NBA veteran, who arrived Saturday morning and replaced Ethan Rusbatch days later, deflected credit to his head coach Aldin Ayo.
“We got a great coach. He knows the X and Os. In the last two days that I’ve been here he always preached details. Details is what made us win the game. Without the coach we we wouldn’t have won the game,” said Franklin after the FiberXers zoomed to a 2-0 start in the season-ending conference.
Ayo returned the compliment, but insisted there’s still much work cut out for his prized reinforcement, who was outscored by counterpart Jordan Williams who fired 46 markers.
“We got it today. Jamaal played well. But of course he’s still adjusting. Hopefully mga susunod nang practices namin he’ll be able to adjust doon sa sistema namin,” said Ayo, whose team was coming off a convincing 122-92 win over NorthPort.
“But he played a good game and again he’s making all those passes, extra passes to the locals. Good thing mga locals nakapag-convert sa mga tira nila.”
The two-time collegiate champion coach was on point.
On top of 11 rebounds, the former Denver Nugget dished out 8 assists in over 40 minutes of play. Five locals also finished in double figures with Maverick Ahanmisi scoring 16 and Justin Arana and Jeron Teng contributing 15 apiece.
Alec Stockton and Abu Tratter had 10 markers each.
After his spectacular PBA debut, it looks like Ayo and Converge will keep him for the long haul.
“I think we’re going to stick with him. We’ll make sure na mag fit siya sa ginagawa namin,” said Ayo.