San Miguel Beermen import EJ Anosike during the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals Game 2 against Converge FiberXers. –PBA IMAGES
San Miguel’s battle-tested nerves proved to be key once again on Saturday night as the Beermen held off Converge, 107-100, to move within a win of sweeping their best-of-five PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal showdown.
Import EJ Anosike had 41 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Beermen, who took everything the FiberXers could offer even after former Rookie of the Year Justin Arana’s untimely exit due to a hyperextended knee.
“When everyone plays well, the energy is just contagious,” said the Nigerian forward, who turned in another solid outing for the powerhouse club that he began backstopping just last Thursday.
“This is my second game here, and I’m happy to be with this group of guys and compete,” he said. “I think any time you come into a winning culture, and if you’re a winning player, it’s easy to adjust.
“We have a lot of great players on this team and that’s what makes it easy for me to play in.”
Reigning MVP and Best Player of the Conference front-runner June Mar Fajardo had 15 points and 16 rebounds, leading the local cast that doused repeated comeback attempts by the FiberXers in the final period at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Converge is a strong team with a good import. We just played better in the last six minutes, and that’s why [we won],” San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent said.
“Our composure came through in the endgame as the players just stuck with what they’re good at.”
San Miguel went on a minirun with 1:37 remaining to seal the victory that helped the dynastic franchise to the doorstep of yet another semifinal appearance.
Converge import Jalen Jones had 36 points and 12 rebounds, while top-scoring local Alec Stockton tossed in 14 in the losing stand. Bryan Santos added 12 and so did Arana, who told reporters that he was struggling to put weight on his knee.
Kris Rosales had 11 points, while CJ Perez chipped in 10 for San Miguel. Marcio Lassiter and Terrence Romeo had at least eight points each to help the Beermen take the fight out of a Converge side that has been truly competitive.