PLAY "San Miguel Beermen basketball" for an entire 48 minutes.
That, in essence, is the task as the Beermen shoot for a 2-0 lead against Converge in the PBA Governors' Cup Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Multi-titled SMB was in command for most of Game 1, taking a 16-point tear but eased on the pedal and saw their lead chopped to four in the stretch before securing a 102-95 opening victory in the best-of-five series.
"We wanted to close the game real quick and we made a few mistakes that allowed them to come back. We lost our composure (in certain periods) but in the end, we regained it," said coach Jorge Gallent.
With Jordan Adams injured, SMB brought in EJ Anosike for the playoffs and the American-Nigerian quickly went to work and dropped 28 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
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Anosike formed a lethal tag team inside the paint with June Mar Fajardo, who had a Player of the Game-earning 25-16 performance.
"Si EJ, sobrang lakas niya sa ilalim, sobrang lakas niya sa board (whereas) si Jordan naman more like a pure scorer," Fajardo said of their new import, whose inside presence is also helping open up the Beermen's shooters.
"Hustle player si EJ at grabe 'yung energy niya sa loob so nag-co-complement talaga sa team," he added.
For Converge to improve its chances for an equalizing bounce-back in the 5 p.m. Game 2, it's important to get Alec Stockton back in the groove.
Stockton, the team's top local scorer with his 15.2-point average in the elims, shot only five in Game 1, forcing Jalen Jones, Justin Arana and Schonny Winston to carry a heavier load on offense. (OL)
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