Barangay Ginebra is looking to keep its chase for a quarterfinals bonus as it takes on also-ran Converge when the 2024 Philippine Cup flies down south in Cagayan De Oro on Saturday, April 27.

The Kings, toting a 6-3 record good for the solo second, aim to close the gap between them and league-leader San Miguel Beermen and solidify its spot in the Top 2 in the 6:15 showdown against the eliminated FiberXers at the Aquilino Pimentel International Convention Center.

Setting up the table for the interesting clash is the showdown between skidding teams NorthPort and Blackwater over at the Caloocan Sports Complex at 3:00 p.m.

Both teams are free-falling after a strong start to the conference, dropping their respective last five contests with the Batang Pier sliding to the eighth spot with a 4-6 slate and the Bossing dropping to the ninth spot with a 3-5 record.

Despite being the heavy favorite in the contest, Ginebra head coach Tim Cone does not want his wards to play complacent in front of Converge especially after it picked up its first win at the expense of Meralco.

For one, the FiberXers have nothing to lose at this point as they are only aiming at spoiling the part for the playoff seeking teams and have their own graceful exit to the all-Filipino conference.

The Batman and Robin tandem of Justin Arana and Alec Stockton is expected to be at the forefront of the attack for Converge but huge contributions like the one Bryan Santos had in the win against the Bolts would be of a great help to the cause for Aldin Ayo-mentored squad.

Santos fired seven triples on his way to 22 points to help the FiberXers end a record of futility that saw them drop their last 12 games, dating back to the Commissioner’s Cup last December

However, taking down a mighty team like the Kings would also be easier said than done, more that the anticipated jam-packed crowd is expected to rally behind them. 

Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar will continue to lord the paint for Ginebra while Scottie Thompson is primed to run the show anew for the Kings.

They also got timely help after signing free-agent David Murrell to plug in the hole left by the injuries to their wingmen in Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray.

On top of that, Ginebra is also riding the crest of a three-game win streak, the last of which a gutsy 87-83 decision over fellow contender TNT.