Japeth Aguilar of Ginebra dunks against Converge during their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup game, May 10, 2025 at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga. PBA Images

MANILA -- Barangay Ginebra put the clamps on Converge to come away with an 85-66 victory in their PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup showdown, Saturday night at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga.

The Gin Kings essayed a defensive masterpiece as they limited the FiberXers to just 31.3% shooting from the field.

With the result, Ginebra recovered from a close loss to NLEX in its previous game and improved to 3-2 in the conference.

Converge, meanwhile, saw its three-game winning streak come to an abrupt end. They dropped to 4-3.

The FiberXers never quite recovered from a poor first quarter that saw them score just 13 points to Ginebra's 23. They were within 10 points, 67-57, early in the fourth period off an Alec Stockton triple, but it was the closest they would get.

A triple by RJ Abarrientos and a Japeth Aguilar bucket shifted the momentum back in Ginebra's favor, and the FiberXers could not muster enough offense to threaten the Gin Kings. 

Aguilar earned Player of the Game honors with 23 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, while Scottie Thompson had 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and Jamie Malonzo just missed out on a double-double with nine points and 10 boards.

Abarrientos came off the bench to score 14 points along with five rebounds and three assists.

Baltazar had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Converge, but Arana shot just 2-of-11 from the field for nine points to go with his 11 rebounds. Schonny Winston was silenced, as he made just two of 12 shots for four points.

The Scores :

GINEBRA 85 – Aguilar 23, Thompson 15, Abarrientos 14, Holt 12, Malonzo 9, Rosario 7, David 3, Adamos 2, Cu 0, R. Aguilar 0

CONVERGE 66 – Baltazar 13, Garcia 12, Arana 9, Stockton 8, Ambohot 7, Winston 4, Delos Santos 4, Racal 3, Suerte 3, Nermal 2, Corpuz 1, Caralipio 0, R. Santos 0, B. Santos 0

QUARTERS: 23-13, 50-34, 67-54, 85-66