By REYNALD MAGALLON
Japeth Aguilar felt exactly right at home playing at his hometown in Pampanga, steering Barangay Ginebra to an 85-66 victory over Converge in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center, Saturday, May 10.
Inspired playing in front of his fellow Cabalen, Aguilar outmuscled and outplayed the promising twin towers of Justin Arana and another Kapampangan Justine Baltazar to lead the Kings to the convincing bounce back win.
Aguilar posted 23 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as the Kings put the clamps on the high-scoring FiberXers, who for the first time this conference was limited to below 80 points and after a string of victories that saw them outscore their opponents by reaching the 100-point mark.
Scottie Thompson and RJ Abarrientos had 15 and 13 respectively to provide support while Stephen Holt added 11 for Ginebra which immediately set the tempo of the contest on the first frame when it limited Converge to just 13 points.
Bothered by the defense of the Kings, the FiberXers never got into any sort of groove in the contest with Arana getting held to below single digits with only nine points to go with 11 rebounds – ending his streak of double-doubles.
Baltazar paced Converge with 13 points and 10 rebounds but the usual weapons for the FiberXers were eerily silent with Alec Stockton only finishing with eight and Schonny Winston with only four
