Japeth Aguilar delivered a powerful performance in front of his fellow Kapampangans, steering Barangay Ginebra to a convincing 85-66 win over the Converge FiberXers at the Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga. The Sasmuan native dropped 23 points and hauled down rebounds for a solid double-double to power the Gin Kings to a 3-2 record.

Aguilar’s inspired play overshadowed the homecoming of fellow Kapampangan Justine Baltazar, who managed a double-double of his own with 13 points and 10 rebounds. However, Converge’s offense sputtered as the FiberXers dropped to 4-3 after seeing their three-game winning streak snapped.

Ginebra Starts Strong, Never Lets Up

The Gin Kings quickly established dominance with a 23-13 start in the first quarter and carried a 50-34 cushion into halftime. Ginebra’s defensive intensity and offensive discipline ensured Converge never came within 10 points for the remainder of the contest.

Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, and Stephen Holt each scored at least 12 points, giving Ginebra a balanced attack. Their consistent effort on both ends helped keep Converge in check and controlled the tempo from start to finish.

FiberXers Struggle to Find Rhythm

Converge failed to match Ginebra’s energy, particularly on defense and transition plays. Baltazar was the lone bright spot with his double-double, but support was lacking across the board as the FiberXers slid to sixth place in the standings.

Despite playing in front of a home crowd, Baltazar and the FiberXers could not gain momentum against a determined Ginebra squad. The Kings, playing with poise and urgency, looked every bit the contenders they are known to be.