Ginebra, Phoenix fight over right to get off roller-coaster start

Following their recent out-of-town game, Barangay Ginebra returns to the metropolis for a PBA Philippine Cup clash with Phoenix at the Philsports Arena. Meanwhile, in their own matchup, one team between Converge and NorthPort will finally aim to get back on the winning track.

Beyond the need to enhance their shooting, here are several key factors for the initial game between the FiberXers and the Batang Pier, and also for the headline encounter featuring the Gin Kings and the Fuel Masters.

CONVERGE VS. NORTHPORT

Date: Friday, May 16, 5 p.m.
Venue: Philsports Arena

Batang Pier Aim to Halt Losing Streak

NorthPort faces Converge, determined to end their four-game losing streak. Their recent defeat was a 105-104 loss to Meralco on May 9, a match where they led by five points with only 23 seconds left. This result continued NorthPort’s struggles, as they fell to a 1-4 record.

Recovering from Poor Shooting Performance

Converge’s three-game winning streak was broken last Saturday by an 85-66 defeat against Ginebra. The FiberXers had trouble making even simple shots in the out-of-town match in San Fernando, Pampanga, considered their home game, where they shot only 31 percent from the field—their poorest showing this conference by a significant margin.

NorthPort also endured a difficult shooting night in their last outing, especially from the free-throw line, converting only 15 of 33 attempts (a mere 46 percent). Several of these misses occurred in the crucial final seconds, contributing to the Batang Pier’s eventual collapse.

Arvin Tolentino’s Return Unlikely

Arvin Tolentino is anticipated to be out of action still due to a hip flexor injury. The Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference stated to reporters after the previous game that he intends to focus on a complete recovery before returning to the court.

PHOTO: Mark Cristino

Converge states they are thoroughly prepared for the match, irrespective of Tolentino’s presence.

PHOENIX VS. BARANGAY GINEBRA

Date: Friday, May 16, 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Philsports Arena

A Mix of Wins and Losses for Phoenix and Ginebra

Recent performances for both Phoenix and Ginebra have been marked by inconsistency.

Since losing their initial two games, the Fuel Masters have alternated between wins and losses. Their most recent outing was a 111-92 defeat against San Miguel last Sunday, which saw their record drop to 2-4.

PHOTO: Mark Cristino

The Gin Kings also haven’t secured a winning streak in this conference so far. However, they now have an opportunity to achieve this, having improved their record to 3-2 after an 85-66 victory over Converge.

Aguilar Seeks to Replicate Strong Performance

Japeth Aguilar delivered a standout performance for his Pampanga compatriots in Ginebra’s last match, recording 23 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the conference. He achieved this while facing the formidable Converge duo of Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar.

Against a Phoenix frontline that is notably smaller than Converge’s, Aguilar will need to deliver another dominant performance to enhance the Gin Kings’ prospects of achieving their first back-to-back victories this conference.

Ballungay Faces New Challenge

The Phoenix big man showcased his abilities by scoring 23 points in the Fuel Masters’ loss to San Miguel. Despite his team’s win, Beermen coach Leo Austria mentioned that they had to make tactical adjustments when facing the versatile Kai Ballungay, such as deploying Mo Tautuaa instead of June Mar Fajardo during certain periods of the game. On Friday, Ballungay is set to go up against the veteran but still athletic Aguilar.

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