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    Converge import Franklin shrugs off Johnny A 'dirty finger'

    'There was no problem between me and the coach'
    Jan 29, 2023
    Johnny Abarrientos Franklin
    PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

    ANTIPOLO – Jamaal Franklin has no beef with Johnny Abarrientos or any member of Magnolia’s coaching staff in the wake of Converge’s highly-emotional 111-109 win over the Hotshots in the PBA Governors Cup on Sunday night at the Ynares Center.

    The import said he was just doing his job to help the FiberXers win, although he did tip his hat to the Hotshots, who he described as a good, well-coached team.

    Franklin was at the receiving end of a dirty finger from Magnolia deputy coach Johnny Abarrientos after he hit a huge three pointer to beat the shot clock buzzer, giving Converge a 111-105 lead with 1:04 to play.

    READ: Johnny A faces fine for Johnny A dirty finger

    “I took my hat off to coach. There was no problem between me and the coach,” said the Converge import who finished with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. “Nothing happened between me and the other coaches there.”

    But apparently, Franklin thought the Magnolia coaching staff got angry at him when he got fouled by Rome Dela Rosa while launching a shot from three-point range entering the final two minutes.

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      The call drew a howl of protest from the Magnolia bench as game officials gave Franklin three free throws. The Hotshots were in the middle of a furious comeback at that point, cutting what once stood as a 14-point deficit to 106-104.

      Franklin missed his first foul shot, but converted the next two to make it a four-point Converge lead.

      “I think they got a little mad on the 3 I took, while I got the three fouls. But I had nothing to do with it. That’s on the ref,” he said.

      Johnny Abarrientos Franklin

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      Nonetheless, the 31-year-old former NBA player had a lot of good words to the Hotshots, crediting no. 13 (Calvin Abueva) and no. 19 (Dela Rosa) for playing good defense against him.

      “They’re good physical defenders,” he said of Abueva and Dela Rosa. “They have people who can play defense.”

      Franklin has so far won in the two games he played for the FiberXers (3-0) since coming over to replace original import Ethan Rusbatch.

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      PHOTO: Jerome Ascano
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