The San Miguel Beermen got back on the winning track on Wednesday with a commanding 126-114 victory over the Converge FiberXers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The win improves San Miguel’s PBA Governors’ Cup slate to 5-2—good enough for second in Group A—while the loss drops Converge to 3-4 after opening the conference with three straight wins.
What Happened?
The Beermen and FiberXers went at it right from the very first quarter, with George King (16 points) and Rodney Brondial (8) powering San Miguel to a 31-point start. Converge countered with 28 points behind a balanced attack. It was more of the same in the second quarter, but with the Beermen’s second unit of Jericho Cruz, Don Trollano, and Jerrick Ahanmisi providing the spark this time, even as the FiberXers got an energy boost from Calvin Abueva. At the half, King and company held a slim 65-64 lead over Converge.
San Miguel’s offense continued humming in the third, with Chris Ross and Marcio Lassiter providing additional firepower as the Beermen hit six treys in a 37-point quarter while holding Converge to only 21. That scorching third quarter allowed San Miguel to build a 102-85 lead heading into the fourth period. Trollano began the final frame with a triple to give the Beermen a 105-85 lead, and they never looked back.
Who Stood Out?
King provided a performance fit for a king, torching Converge for a season-high 46 points on top of 14 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Trollano provided superb support, coming off the bench to fire 27 points on five triples. Ahanmisi also came off the San Miguel bench and added 15 markers spiked by a pair of four-pointers. June Mar Fajardo, meanwhile, scored just 5 points but dominated nonetheless with 21 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 blocks.
Converge, on the other hand, saw Abueva play his best game in a FiberXers jersey as he poured in 26 points to go along with 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks as he tried in vain to stop his team’s slide. Import Jamaal Franklin added 26 markers and 12 boards, while Justin Arana chipped in 17 and 10.
3 Keys to the Game
- Long ball. San Miguel shot lights out in this one, going 13-for-29 from downtown to Converge’s 8-for-17 clip. The Beermen even added four four-pointers as they bombarded the FiberXers from beyond the two outside lines.
- Points off turnovers. The turnover battle wasn’t as one-sided, with San Miguel committing 9 and Converge having 12. However, the Beermen converted those turnovers into 19 points, while the FiberXers scored just 7 off San Miguel’s miscues.
- Bench play. Converge’s starters outplayed San Miguel’s, but the Beermen got a huge lift from their bench led by Trollano. In all, the Beermen’s second unit scored 63 compared to the 38 from the FiberXers’ reserves. Moreover, different second stringers from San Miguel chipped in, while it was only Abueva for Converge.
Next Up for the PBA
Friday, August 7, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
NLEX Road Warriors vs. Terrafirma Dyip (5:15 p.m.)
Magnolia Hotshots vs. Meralco Bolts (7:30 p.m.)
