Converge brings back Franklin

MANILA, Philippines — Jamaal Franklin gets his second chance with Converge.

Franklin, who left the team under unfavorable circumstances back in 2023, received a callup from the FiberXers to return to the fold for the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup hostilities.

The 6-foot-5 Franklin takes over from Jalen Hudson, who couldn’t deliver the goods in the first four games of Converge.

Hudson averaged 12.25 points, 6.75 rebounds, and 4.25 assists – numbers that paled in comparison with the other imports – and Franklin’s scoring prowess and all-around game should give Converge a major boost going forward.

In his maiden stint in Season 47, where he replaced first import Ethan Rusbatch, Franklin logged 34.0 markers 11.7 boards, and 7.6 assists highlighted by two 50-point outings – 53 and 57 in losses to NLEX and Meralco, respectively – and a 25-13-15 triple-double in a 112-98 win over Rain or Shine.

The FiberXers won five of their first seven matches with Franklin in tow but stumbled to three straight losses en route to a 6-5 record and seventh seed in the playoffs. But Franklin’s meager four markers on a lowly five attempts in Converge’s 101-120 beating from Ginebra led to then coach Aldin Ayo giving him the boot and bringing in Tom Vodanovich for the Last-8 campaign.

Current Converge mentor Delta Pineda activated the former Memphis and Denver player in time for today’s duel with defending champion TNT at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The FiberXers (3-1) are raring to get back on track in the 7:30 p.m. Group A gig after absorbing a 118-122 defeat to SMB last Wednesday. They face an injury-plagued Tropang 5G (1-2), who themselves are hell-bent on a pullaround, having lost their last two assignments, 87-103 to Titan Ultra and 106-111 in overtime to Terrafirma.

Meanwhile, Phoenix (3-1) and Blackwater (3-2) clash in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser in a battle for the Group B lead.

The protagonists are both out to regain their winning ways with the Fuel Masters smarting from their 98-115 setback to ROS and the Bossing reeling from back-to-back defeats to Meralco, 114-116, and Ginebra, 85-115.