Games today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:15 p.m. — Magnolia vs Blackwater

7:30 p.m. — Ginebra vs Converge

Well-rested Barangay Ginebra sets its sights on starting a winning run to turn its shaky campaign around in a litmus test against Converge in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tip-off is set at 7:30 p.m. following the 5:15 p.m. clash between Magnolia and Blackwater.

The Kings’ early struggles barely kept them inside the Top Eight with the playoff race heating up.

Ginebra currently holds a 2-3 win-loss record and is coming off a 104-74 rout of NLEX on 2 November to end a two-game slide.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone’s wards had some extra days of rest following the postponement of their match against Titan Ultra last Sunday due to typhoon “Uwan.”

Cone hopes the extended prep time is enough to lift Ginebra past the challenge of facing a young and talented crew bent on climbing into the Top Four of the standings.

It will be experience against youth when the two teams collide in what promises to be a dogfight. 

Veteran big man Japeth Aguilar will be battling FiberXers’ young behemoths in Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar, both averaging double-double numbers.

Kings guard Scottie Thompson, Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos will be tested against young guns Alec Stockton, Schonny Winston and prolific rookie Juan Gomez de Liano.

Converge carries a 4-2 slate tied with the Hotshots in fifth to sixth spot.

The FiberXers outlasted Blackwater, 99-94, last week to get back on the winning track following their defeat to defending champion San Miguel Beer.

“Same thing, (we’ll be up against) a champion team. No choice, we have to face them no matter what. We have to prepare and make sure we don’t rush our offense,” Converge coach Delta Pineda said.

“We have to execute our plays in every possession.”

Magnolia, on the other hand, is seeking to rebound from a heartbreaking 92-94 loss to the Beermen last 7 November.

The Hotshots also got a rest extension following the postponement of their game against TNT.

Head coach LA Tenorio will bank on Jerom Lastimosa, Zavier Lucero, Ian Sangalang and Mark Barroca to get Magnolia back in the win column against the Bossing crew led by Sedrick Barefield, Christian David and Dalph Panopio.

Blackwater is out to snap a five-game slide after an opening-day win.