BARANGAY Ginebra and Converge clash in the first road game for the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup on Saturday at the Batangas City Coliseum.Both teams are coming off victories.The Gin Kings bucked the absence of injured stars Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt, relying on import Justin Brownlee's 49-point explosion to hammer the Terrafirma Dyip, 114-98, on Thursday.On the other hand, the FiberXers registered their first back-to-back victories for the conference with a 116-105 come-from-behind win against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.'We were missing two important starters in Japeth and Stephen because of injuries so there was little anxiety coming to this basketball game (against Terrafirma) but I felt Aljon (Mariano) did a really good job filling in and RJ (Abarrientos) started real well and played all the way through,' said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.The 6-foot-9 Aguilar missed the game due to a suspected groin injury, while Holt, one of Cone's top lockdown defenders, is down with a hyperextended knee.The American mentor said the timeline for the return of his two valuable assets is uncertain, pending further tests.While Ginebra managed to do pretty well in its first four game played within a weeklong span, Cone knows the road to ending 2024 with a bang won't be easy.For one, the Gin Kings are facing a lock and loaded Converge side, which only got stronger with the acquisition of the top rookie pick in the 2021 special draft for Gilas Pilipinas players.Aside from Heading, Converge got taller with his season's top rookie pick Justine Baltazar already joining the team after concluding his stint with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, who just won their second straight Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League title.The 6-foot-8 Baltazar is still finding his way on offense, just three games into his PBA stint, after contributing a quiet six points on 3-of-11 shooting against Phoenix.But the former La Salle big man made his presence felt inside with his 13 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end.'It would be the first time for all of us (to face Baltazar),' Cone said. 'We've scouted him. He's a great player, the No. 1 pick in the draft, and obviously he'll get our respect.'However, Cone also knows Baltazar isn't just the lone guy to watch for Converge.'But a lot of guys also we have to worry as well. They have a really strong backcourt, and their import is long and active,' he noted.'Justine is one of those things we're gonna worry about but we also worry about whole team.'While Brownlee, Abarrientos, free agent acquisition Troy Rosario and Scottie Thompson will be there to lead the team, Cone will now have to dig deeper into his bench since Converge has the tools to run them down with its size, quickness and youth.Playmaker Alec Stockton and big man Justin Arana have been playing beautiful music together, while NBA veteran Cheick Diallo has been a force to reckon with on both ends of the floor.Even Heading's entry to the team has been seamless, with the left-handed guard finishing with 21 points five rebounds and eight assists against Phoenix.The lone game schedule begins at 7:30 p.m.
