BARANGAY Ginebra turned into a rout what was expected to be a battle versus Converge in their elims face-off.
Chasing another deep playoff run in the season, the Gin Kings now need to get past the FiberXers once again to advance their cause.
Their 19-point blowout of the FiberXers on May 10 in a road match in San Fernando, Pampanga gives coach Tim Cone little comfort going into their rematch at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday.
Cone has much concern on the challenge posed by Converge twin towers Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana, acknowledging their need to focus on winning just one game, rather than getting ahead of themselves with thoughts of a twice-to-beat advantage.
"Bottomline is we're just going to prepare ourselves and try to go out and just win one game. That's really we're thinking about, one game, not twice-to-beat. We're just thinking about one game and winning that," said Cone about getting focused on their immediate task.
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Needless to say, Japeth Aguilar would need to have a strong performance to help counter Converge's twin bigs - the biggest reason in the FiberXers' fifth-place finish in the elims that sent them to a PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals matchup with the Gin Kings.
Both ride momentum of strong finishing kicks in the elims as they set out for their 7:30 p.m. showdown.
Cone stresses the importance of winning this match, mentioning the big danger in playing the FiberXers in a sudden death. The KO tiff would be on Wednesday, if necessary.
A hot three-game streak versus Magnolia (85-81), TNT (97-78) and Rain or Shine (98-80) primes up Ginebra for its quarters duel with Converge which, for its part, is coming from victories over Terrafirma (117-103) and San Miguel Beer (100-97).
In the rematch, much focus would still be on Aguilar in his duels with Baltazar and Arana.
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Aguilar didn't disappoint the last time, and the entire Ginebra team played without let up in outclassing the FiberXers.
The Ginebra center/forward from Sasmuan town played an inspired game in front of his cabalens then, pouring in 23 points. And Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos and Stephen Holt contributed at least 12 points each, making things easier for the Kings.
Baltazar then was good for only 13 points in his Bren Guiao Convention Center homecoming. And with practically the whole Converge team contained, the FiberXers went down to a sorry loss
Aguilar was at the forefront of their solid effort, finishing with a double-double game with 10 rebounds on top of his game-high 23 points. Baltazar actually had his own double-double outing with 13 markers and 10 boards.(SB)
