GETTING a welcome extra rest on the postponement of their game Sunday, the Barangay Ginebra Kings plunge back into action in tackling the Converge FiberXers in PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Friday.
Before taking on lighter assignments in their next outings, the Gin Kings face another tough test in the FiberXers, a young, exuberant crew contending very well for a Top Four berth in the quarterfinals.
Coach Tim Cone's chargers and coach Delta Pineda's troops duke it out at 7:30 p.m. with Converge taking a shot at a share of second spot with San Miguel Beer, Rain or Shine and NLEX at 5-2.
The Kings, meanwhile, will be out to jack up their stocks inside the Top Eight. They're currently at 2-3.
After winning just once in faceoffs with fellow heavyweights Magnolia, TNT, Meralco and San Miguel Beer, the Kings gained some relief on a 104-74 rout of the NLEX Road Warriors on Nov. 2. Then came the postponement of their game versus the Titan Ultra Giant Risers due to Typhoon Uwan.
The FiberXers are at 4-2, coming through with a 99-94 drubbing of the Blackwater Bossing in their last outing - a bounce-back from a loss to San Miguel Beer in the previous game.
The Converge coach said they learned from their defeat to the Beermen, and they hope to make good use of those learnings as they face the Kings.
"Same thing, (we'll be up against) a champion team. No choice kailangan harapin kahit gaano sila kagaling. We have to prepare and make sure hindi nagmamadali sa opensa," said Pineda.
"We have to execute our plays in every possession," he added.
The Kings should have the same thing in mind while ranged against a team with good young talents practically in all positions.
Veteran Japeth Aguilar will be battling young behemoths Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar who both average double-double numbers while Scottie Thompson and the other Ginebra guards will be in exciting matchups with Alec Stockton, Schonny Winston and prolific rookie Juan Gomez de Liano.
It's expected to be a dogfight to mark the much awaited return of the PBA at the Big Dome.
