EJ Anosike of San Miguel Beer desires one other crack at booting out Converge. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Converge coach Franco Atienza expects to face an “offended” San Miguel Beer workforce on Friday, when each squads conflict in Recreation 4 of their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals showdown.
He doesn’t know the half of it.
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“We’re getting it performed. That’s it,” the Beermen’s EJ Anosike instructed the Inquirer, deadpan.
The Nigerian-American import is coming off extra than simply the heartbreaking collapse in Recreation 3, the place the FiberXers escaped with a 114-112 win on Monday on Alec Stockton’s buzzer-beating jumper after overcoming a 27-point deficit.
EASL loss
Two nights after that stinging defeat, the Beermen bowed to South Korea’s Suwon KT Sonicboom, 87-81, at Mall of Asia Enviornment to start its worldwide marketing campaign within the East Asia Tremendous League (EASL).
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These back-to-back defeats have been Anosike’s solely two losses with the Beermen since changing Jordan Adams. And Converge is aware of precisely what San Miguel workforce they are going to be going through within the 7:30 p.m. showdown.
“We now have to be prepared towards a San Miguel workforce who’s offended and keen to get again at its loss,” Atienza stated.
“We all know and we’re conscious that San Miguel is gonna be loads stronger,” he added. “They’ll … most likely [be] even sharper come Friday, particularly coming off a [Game 3] loss and coming off going through a world workforce.”
The way in which Anosike performed towards Suwon, his former workforce when he performed within the Korean Basketball League in his skilled stint in 2022, might spell hassle as soon as extra for Converge.
Anosike had 34 factors, seven rebounds, 4 assists and two steals towards the Sonicbooms.
Towards Kings
He has posted 36.0 factors by scoring largely from inside, whereas nonetheless discovering the consistency from the surface with 5 three-pointers already in his identify. Anosike additionally has 9.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists within the collection.
“[T]hat’s simply the participant I’m: I am going on the market, compete night time in and night time out, and attempt to put my workforce ready to win,” Anosike stated. “I believe in these playoffs, something can occur. So there’s classes to be realized. We obtained to be extra disciplined to get the job performed within the subsequent sport.”
“We will’t have alternatives slip. It’s the playoffs. Each sport issues,” he added.
The winner of this quarterfinal pairing advances to the semifinals towards Barangay Ginebra, which swept Meralco of their collection.
Coach Tim Cone and Justin Brownlee have been seen watching the EASL doubleheader, giving them an opportunity to scout San Miguel and Anosike.
A nephew of former Purple Bull champion import Julius Nwosu, a cousin of La Salle reinforcement Henry Agunanne and good buddies with No. 2 choose and Blackwater Sedrick Barefield, Anosike positive is well-connected with gamers who’ve been plying their commerce right here within the Philippines.
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“I simply suppose that I get pleasure from to be right here within the Philippines—a phenomenal nation. I’m completely happy to expertise this and in addition play basketball,” he stated.
