Franklin scoring outage puzzles coach, fans

Converging officials are still deciding the fate of Jamaal Franklin (right), who was embarrassed in the game against Barangay Ginebra. — AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Convergent management will take time before making a decision on the fate of import Jamaal Franklin, whose performance – or nonperformance – leaves FiberXers fans and coach Aldin Ayo in the dark.

“We haven’t discussed anything because we’re on break now,” team official CK Kanapi-Daniolco said Monday after Franklin’s mysterious four-point game in its 120-101 loss to Barangay Ginebra at the PhilSports Arena. in Pasig City.

Franklin only took five shots in that setback, a huge contrast to the run of form since replacing Ethan Rusbatch two games into the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup.

During the loss that ended the FiberXers’ chances of getting a second advantage to beat them in the quarterfinals, Franklin chose to pass the ball more than usual instead of attempting shots, including uncontested ones, which he constantly converted.

Before the game against Ginebra, Franklin scored 57 points in a 132-129 overtime loss at the hands of Meralco after needing 36 shots to generate output-something that reduced Let’s smile.

“You take 36 or you take five. I mean, what’s the deal?” Let’s puzzle the reporter before suggesting that a change will be made.

Let’s not explain what the change is, if it’s tactics or giving Franklin a plane ticket back home and looking for a replacement in the quarterfinals.

But Ayo felt that it was not the first time that he felt that Franklin was playing with hesitation, although the previous events did not seem like the Ginebra game.

Three straight losses

“I was a bit surprised, but there is a precedent. There were some games, especially against Blackwater, where the body language was different,” he said in Filipino.

“In the back of my mind, there’s always a chance that he could do it again. But the instructions really play into the system. But I don’t know what’s going on,” Ayo added.

In a 98-90 win over Blackwater, Franklin scored 19 points on six-of-16 shooting and had 15 rebounds to go with five assists. He also had six turnovers. Before that game, Converge lost to NLEX, 116-112, in a duel in which Franklin finished with 53 points on a 12-of-30 performance from the field and 12 turnovers.

Converge has finished the playoffs with a 6-5 record, dropping three straight games including matches against Meralco and Ginebra. INQ

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