MANILA — The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters squandered a 14-point lead but had enough poise in the endgame to beat the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 98-96, in the nightcap of the PBA Governors’ Cup campaign twinbill Friday night.

Raymond Almazan averted a ROS collapse by hitting two free throws with 5 ticks left, giving ROS the lead for good. Before that, the Painters shot just 14-of-30 from the charity stripe.

Terrence Romeo had a chance to steal the win for GlobalPort but missed a last-second off-balanced three-point shot with ROS’ Gabe Norwood and Jericho Cruz all over him.

ROS import J.D. Weatherspoon debuted in the PBA with a double-double 25 points and 15 boards, while Maverick Ahanmisi led the locals with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Almazan finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Romeo led GlobalPort as usual, finishing with 28 points and 5 assists. His backcourt partner Stanley Pringle added 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists.

GlobalPort import Jabril Trawick was a huge disappointment, finishing with just 3 points and 2 rebounds in just 16 minutes on the floor before fouling out midway in the fourth quarter.

Meralco 107, Blackwater 78

The Meralco Bolts showed they’re ready to compete for the championship once again, just like what they did in last year’s season-ending conference, routing the Blackwater Elite, 107-78.

Led once again by the conference’s reigning Best Import Allen Durham, the Bolts started hot, racing to a 17-point lead, 32-15, lead to end the first quarter. They kept on pounding the Elite the rest of the way en route to an emphatic win to start their Governors’ Cup campaign.

The vastly improved Baser Amer led Meralco with 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting to go with 6 rebounds and 8 assists.

He got solid support from Durham who tallied a double-double 18 points and 21 boards. New acquisition Garbo Lanete debuted for Meralco with 15 points, from five three-pointers, in 23 minutes.

Three other Bolts scored in double digits with Jared Dilinger scoring 14, Chris Newsome 13 and Cliff Hodge, 11.

Import Trevis Simpson led Blackwater with 25 points and eight boards.

Games Saturday: NLEX Road Warriors (1-0) vs. KIA Picanto (0-1) and Phoenix Fuel Masters (1-0) vs. Alaska Aces (0-1).