San Miguel holds off Converge in quarterfinal opener

San Miguel Beermen held off a late push from the Converge FiberXers to secure a 102-95 victory in Game 1 of their best-of-five quarterfinal series in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Beermen, despite coming off a two-game losing streak at the end of the eliminations, found their rhythm once again. June Mar Fajardo led the charge with a dominant double-double performance, posting 25 points, 16 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. Import EJ Anosike, making his debut for the Beermen after replacing the injured Jordan Adams, contributed 28 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, though his 7-of-24 shooting showed some early rust.

San Miguel appeared to have the game well in hand after CJ Perez’s layup gave them a commanding 97-81 lead with just under four minutes remaining. However, Converge refused to go quietly. Led by Jalen Jones, who finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Justin Arana, who added 20 points, the FiberXers stormed back with a 14-2 run to pull within four, 99-95, entering the final minute of the game.

The FiberXers had multiple chances to close the gap further. Schonny Winston, who tallied 17 points, missed a crucial three-point attempt with 31 seconds left that could have made it a one-point game. Moments later, Alec Stockton’s steal gave Converge another opportunity, but a costly turnover by John Louisse De Los Santos dashed their hopes of a comeback.

Anosike then calmly sank critical free throws to extend San Miguel’s lead to 101-95, and Converge’s Bryan Santos missed a last-gasp four-point attempt, sealing the win for the Beermen.

Fajardo’s dominant presence in the paint was a key factor for San Miguel, while Anosike’s debut, despite some shooting struggles, showed promise. The Beermen’s defense also played a pivotal role in slowing down Converge’s offensive surges, especially in the closing moments.

WATCH: San Miguel vs. Converge (September 26) Game 1 Highlights

For Converge, Jones and Arana provided solid contributions, but the team’s comeback fell just short. Winston’s missed three-pointer and Stockton’s late turnover were costly, but the FiberXers proved they can hang with the more experienced Beermen.

With the win, San Miguel takes a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 is set for Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, where the Beermen will look to extend their lead, while Converge aims to even the series and keep their playoff hopes alive.