AFTER an out-of-town game, Barangay Ginebra returns to the metropolis with a clash against Phoenix in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Philsports Arena even as one team between Converge and NorthPort will finally get back to their winning ways in their own matchup.
Aside from improving on their shooting, here are some of the keys to the first game between the FiberXers and the Batang Pier, as well as in the main tussle between the Gin Kings and the Fuel Masters.
CONVERGE VS. NORTHPORT
When: Friday, May 16. 5 p.m.
Where: Philsports Arena
Batang Pier out to stop losing skid
NorthPort takes on Converge with an eye at ending a four-game losing skid. The Batang Pier lost to Meralco, 105-104, last May 9 in a game where they were already up by five with 23 seconds left. NorthPort continued its struggles, as it fell to 1-4 with the defeat.
Coming from bad shooting night
Converge’s three-game winning streak was snapped last Saturday after an 85-66 defeat to Ginebra. The FiberXers struggled to hit even easy shots in the out-of-town game that was billed as their home game being played in San Fernando, Pampanga when they shot just 31 percent from the field, their worst by far this conference.
NorthPort wasn’t spared from a cold shooting night in its previous game either, particularly from the free throw line, making just 15-of-33 attempts, or only 46 percent, some of the misses coming in the final seconds that led to the Batang Pier collapse.
No signs of an Arvin return
Arvin Tolentino is expected to remain sidelined with a hip flexor issue, with the Best Player of the Conference of the Commissioner’s Cup telling reporters in the prior game that he plans to make a full recovery first before coming back to action.
Converge is definitely prepared for the matchup with or without Tolentino.
PHOENIX VS. BARANGAY GINEBRA
When: Friday, May 16. 7:30 p.m.
Where: Philsports Arena
You win some, you lose some
The past games for Phoenix and Ginebra have been a roller-coaster.
After losing their first two, the Fuel Masters have won and lost alternately. They were defeated by San Miguel, 111-92, last Sunday to fall to 2-4.
The Gin Kings are yet to pick up a winning streak this conference as well, but now have a chance to do so after improving to 3-2 thanks to an 85-66 win over Converge.
Japeth goes for an encore
Japeth Aguilar had a night to remember in front of his Pampanga kababayans in Ginebra’s previous game where he had 23 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double this conference, while competing against the Converge twin towers of Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar.
With a much smaller Phoenix frontline compared to Converge, Aguilar must dominate again to improve the Gin Kings' chances of finally picking up back-to-back wins this conference.
Another test for Ballungay
The Phoenix big man gave a good account of himself when he had 23 points in the Fuel Masters' loss to San Miguel. Despite the win, Beermen coach Leo Austria alluded that they had to make adjustments with matching up against the versatile Kai Ballungay by putting in Mo Tautuaa instead of June Mar Fajardo during some stretches of the game. On Friday, Ballungay will take on a veteran yet still-athletic Aguilar.
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