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| Jamaal Franklin appeared to have not liked the game plan to play more of a facilitator than a scorer. PBA Images (file photo) |
MANILA--While Converge was struggling to keep up against Ginebra in their PBA Governors' Cup game on Sunday night, another cause of concern was happening in the former's bench.
Insiders said that FiberXers import Jamaal Franklin had a run-in with some members of the team staff, stemming from his very quiet four-point outing against the Gin Kings.
The rift began just as Franklin was subbed out of the game for good with 5:09 left and the outcome already settled.
"Pinagalitan ng isang team staff si Jamaal," one person privy to the situation said.
Another source said Franklin somehow took the scolding personally.
"Parang maiiyak na siya," the source said.
Another insider said that even the coaching staff was disgruntled with what's happening on Franklin.
"Pati assistant coach, naiinis na rin sa kanya," the source further said.
The concerns were in connection with Franklin's awkward performance.
It was later revealed that Franklin begrudgingly followed the game plan to pass the ball more but showed that he's not happy about the instruction by passing up on wide-open shots and just keeping on dishing out the ball.
In the end, Franklin only took five shots, making two off layups to finish with four points, and ended up with only five assists in Converge's 101-120 loss to Ginebra that dropped the FiberXers to the twice-to-beat disadvantage in the quarterfinals.
It was a totally far cry from his output against Meralco on Friday in which he shot 36 attempts, although he only converted on 12 of them including four from beyond the arc out of 20 tries.
"It's either he takes 36 or he takes five, so ano ba talaga?" a puzzled Aldin Ayo told sportswriters present at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Sunday night.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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